Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
Public Accounts Committee
HC 348
Published 5 March 2025
Recommendations
24
Accepted in Part
Expensive Nightingale courts continue operating despite significant underuse of main estate.
Recommendation
MoJ told us that it has spent “a significant amount of money” on maintaining the court estate over the last two years.64 HMCTS told us that there is a significant maintenance backlog, but nevertheless assured us that the total capacity …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee's implied recommendation and is taking several specific actions, including increasing Crown Court sitting days, boosting maintenance funding, ongoing judicial recruitment, and increasing legal aid funding. However, they note that demand is so great these actions alone are insufficient and await recommendations from an Independent Review for substantial reform.
HM Treasury
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Conclusions (2)
13
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Written evidence to our inquiry highlighted concerns about the impact on victims, and particularly the serious impact that the backlog can have on victims’ work, family, and mental health and wellbeing.30 Academics from the Justice in COVID–19 for Sexual Abuse and Violence (JiCSAV) project noted that practitioners could provide examples …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee's concerns, highlighting existing judicial practices that prioritise serious sexual offence cases and routine data publication. They have also protected and rolled over funding for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and victim support services, while remaining committed to improving victim support within future Spending Review constraints.
15
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee's concerns, stating they will continue discussions with the Lord Chief Justice to prioritise remand cases, especially the oldest. They are exploring initiatives to address time spent on remand and commit to developing improved data systems for remand by April 2027, while noting existing actions should help expedite cases and further steps will be considered post-review.