The crown court backlog in England and Wales has reached a record high of over 80,000 outstanding cases, according to Ministry of Justice figures published on Thursday. The number of cases awaiting resolution stood at 80,203 at the end of last year, an 8% increase from 74,106 in the previous 12 months.
This figure is more than double the pre-pandemic level of 38,108 cases in 2019. The number of cases open for at least a year also hit a record 21,002 in December, up 27% from 16,584 at the end of 2024. Freedom of information requests revealed that 2,600 crown court trials are not listed until at least 2028, with 29 not due until 2030.
The backlog includes over 200 rape trials, according to MoJ court listings as of January 29. Courts minister Sarah Sackman described the situation as a crisis, stating: 'With a record-breaking backlog of over 80,000 cases, the crown court is on the brink of collapse.' She added that victims have faced 'devastating delays' and pledged to 'drive down the backlog' through reform and investment.
The government has announced plans to scale back jury trials as part of reforms, limiting them to cases where a sentence of three years or more is likely. Magistrates' courts would gain the power to handle cases with a potential sentence of up to two years. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy warned that without action, the backlog could reach 200,000 cases in a decade.
The proposals have faced criticism from Labour backbenchers, including Karl Turner, who branded them 'unworkable, unpopular, unjust and unnecessary'. The reforms are intended to address the escalating crisis, but have sparked debate over their impact on the justice system.
