Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
MoJ and HMCTS's excessive reliance on the Leveson Review risks further backlog growth.
Conclusion
The Leveson Review is expected to report in two parts: firstly, in late Spring 2025 on options for long–term reform, and then not until Autumn 2025 on efficiency and timeliness.22 Until those reports, MoJ told us that it expects the rate of new cases to remain greater than the Crown Court’s capacity to hear and conclude cases, and that simply more funding would not bring things back into line.23 We are concerned that MoJ and HMCTS are placing too much reliance on the Leveson Review, and that the backlog will continue to grow for more years while how to implement the review’s results are considered.24 The impact on victims
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's concern, outlining extensive ongoing work to reduce the Crown Court backlog. However, it acknowledges that these actions are insufficient for substantial reform and confirms its anticipation of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts' recommendations in Spring 2025, with plans already being considered for swift response and implementation.
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.