Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
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
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 May 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗