Recommendation 15

The remand population has grown sharply in recent years. The number of people on remand in September 2024 was 17,600, 20% of the prison population, the highest level in 50 years, up from 9,602 (11% of the prison population) in 2019.35 HMCTS was unable to provide up–to–date information on the number of people on remand beyond their custody time limits, with HMCTS saying current data on this was “not fantastic”.36 The NAO report found that as of 30 September 2022, 32% of the remand population had been held on remand beyond the custody time limit of 6 months, and 5% had been on remand for more than two years, which is particularly concerning when some defendants will be found not guilty.37 The NAO’s 30 CCB0005 31 CCB0005 32 CCB0006 33 CCB0009 34 Qq 41, 42, 46 35 Q 47 36 Qq 48–49 37 Q 50; C&AG’s Report, para 3.14 14 report found that in 2022, 35% of those remanded in custody awaiting trial did not ultimately receive a custodial sentence, including 13% who were acquitted entirely.38