Crown court backlog in England and Wales hits new record of almost 80,000 cases | UK criminal justice

The crown court docket backlog in England and Wales has risen by 10% to a brand new document of just about 80,000 circumstances, whereas wait occasions for trial dates have reached as much as 4 years.Figures from the Ministry of Justice confirmed the open caseload was 78,329 on the finish of June, up 2% from 76,957 on the finish of March, the primary time the backlog handed 75,000. It is usually up 10% from 70,893 a 12 months earlier, the figures present.The median age-length of open circumstances has additionally elevated by 10% on the earlier 12 months however fallen barely on the earlier quarter. The variety of circumstances open for a 12 months or extra elevated to a peak of 19,164 circumstances open for a 12 months or extra – representing a 17% annual enhance.James Rossiter, from the Felony Bar Affiliation, stated a court docket in London on Thursday was resulting from supply a trial date of 8 October 2029 – greater than 4 years away – because of the document backlog.In a submit on X Rossiter accused the federal government of “slicing budgets so courtrooms keep shut”.The MoJ’s report on the figures stated the demand on felony courts continued to develop with greater than 30,000 circumstances getting into crown courts within the newest quarter. It stated courts had been coping with circumstances extra rapidly however not quick sufficient to maintain up with rising variety of circumstances.It famous a 13% enhance in sexual offences reaching court docket, a 14% enhance in robberies and a 12% rise in drug offences in contrast with the earlier 12 months. The variety of rape circumstances reaching court docket hit a peak of 1,291 representing – a 21% enhance on the earlier 12 months, the report stated.The variety of circumstances within the backlog involving sexual offences rose 12 months on 12 months from 11,062 to 13,238, a rise of 20%, whereas circumstances for violence in opposition to the individual elevated from 21,150 to 24,364, up 15%.David Lammy, the justice secretary stated victims of crime had been ready too lengthy for justice.Lammy, who can be the deputy prime minister, stated: “At present’s statistics present the crown court docket backlog has hit a brand new document excessive and it lays naked the unacceptable wait victims face.”He stated the federal government was investing document quantities into the court docket system, however added: “Cash alone can not flip the tide on the rising backlog, which is why we requested Sir Brian Leveson to suggest daring and impressive reform, to place our justice system again on sustainable floor.”In July, Leveson, a former choose, proposed that 1000’s of defendants may lose the appropriate to a jury trial to assist deal with the backlog and save the felony justice system from collapse.He beneficial eradicating the appropriate to be tried in crown court docket for offences that carry a most sentence of not more than two years, reclassifying some offences to allow them to be tried solely in a magistrates court docket and creating a brand new kind of crown court docket the place trials are heard by judges.skip previous e-newsletter promotionOur morning e mail breaks down the important thing tales of the day, telling you what’s occurring and why it mattersPrivacy Discover: Newsletters might comprise details about charities, on-line advertisements, and content material funded by exterior events. When you should not have an account, we’ll create a visitor account for you on theguardian.com to ship you this article. You may full full registration at any time. For extra details about how we use your knowledge see our Privateness Coverage. We use Google reCaptcha to guard our web site and the Google Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service apply.after e-newsletter promotionMinisters are resulting from reply this autumn to Leveson’s suggestions.A report by the Regulation Society revealed on Thursday discovered that crumbling court docket buildings, together with problems with asbestos, mould, rotten seagulls and cells flooding with excrement, had been contributing to the document backlog.Talking at Shrewsbury crown court docket, Choose Anthony Lowe stated: “It’s not a correct justice system the place individuals are having to attend that size of time for his or her trial,” as he adjourned the case of the 55-year-old TV presenter Jay Blades till September 2027.Elsewhere, Westminster magistrates court docket was closed resulting from an absence of water on Thursday.The Manchester Area bomb plotter, Hashem Abedi, was amongst these resulting from seem on the court docket charged with trying to homicide jail officers, however court docket officers stated there was no water within the constructing and that it was a public well being threat.There’s additionally a brand new document backlog in magistrates’ courts of 361,027 circumstances, up 25% on 289,595 a 12 months earlier.