Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Deferred
MoJ and HMCTS acknowledge numerous backlog issues but are deferring action pending the Leveson Review.
Conclusion
We heard of the many issues that MoJ and HMCTS know need addressing if they are to reduce the backlog, but which they are waiting for the Leveson review to report on: poor case preparation, defendants being absent or not 14 Qq 5, 81 15 Qq 38–39 16 Q 2; C&AG’s Report, para 3.2 17 C&AG’s Report, para 4 18 Qq 2, 6, 61 19 Qq 5, 25 20 Ministry of Justice, Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, published 12 December 2024 (accessed 17 January 2025) 12 arriving at court on time, the defence not being ready, advice and guidance to defendants on their pleas, capacity of solicitors and barristers, as well as reforming the fundamental structural issues within the courts system that mean new cases are outstripping the rate at which the courts can conclude cases.21
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion, outlining numerous ongoing actions to reduce the Crown Court backlog. However, it acknowledges these are insufficient for substantial reform and confirms its reliance on the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts (Leveson Review) which is due in Spring 2025, with work already underway to plan for implementing its recommendations.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented: March 2025 1.2 The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to bearing down on the Crown Court backlog and is delivering a wide range of work to achieve this: • Having increased magistrates’ court sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months for a single triable-either way offence; • Funding 110,000 Crown Court sitting days in 2025-26, the highest allocation ever provided and 4,000 more than originally allocated the previous financial year; 20 • Boosting court maintenance funding to £148.5 million, the highest figure spent on maintenance and capital works in 10 years; • Ongoing judicial recruitment for 34 Circuit Judges, including 19 in Crime and up to 70 Recorders. Further recruitment will launch in 2025-26 for 55 Circuit Judges, including 45 in Crime. • Increasing criminal legal aid solicitors funding by £92 million per annum, subject to consultation; • Working with cross-system partners through the judiciary-led Criminal Courts Improvement Group to drive efficiencies across the criminal justice system (CJS); • Trialling a ‘Case Coordinator’ role in ten Crown Courts, aiming to improving adherence to the Better Case Management principles; • Funding vital victim and witness support services – over 2022-2025, the MoJ spent at least £460 million on victim support services, including on dedicated services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. 1.3 However, demand on the courts is now so great that these actions alone are not enough to reduce the outstanding caseload. 1.4 The system requires substantial reform, and the MoJ looks forward to receiving the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts’ recommendations on longer-term structural reform options in Spring 2025. 1.5 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: July 2025 1.6 Without pre-empting its report, work is already underway to ensure swift response to and implementation of recommendations from the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts once received. 1.7 The MoJ is actively considering the implementation plans which would be required for the options for reform, as set out in the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts’ Terms of Reference.