Recommendation 9

When asked about its current ambition for the level of open Crown Court cases, MoJ said that the crucial factor in achieving a reduction in the backlog is the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts (the Leveson Review), which MoJ expects will provide a fundamental assessment of the reforms it can make in the longer term.19 The Lord Chancellor commissioned this review in December 2024, asking Sir Brian Leveson to consider: • long–term options for criminal court reform, with the aim of reducing demand on the Crown Court by retaining more cases in the lower courts (the inquiry’s terms of reference include six specific reform options for the review to consider); and • the efficiency and timeliness of processes through charge to conviction or acquittal.20