The crown court backlog in England and Wales has reached a new record of almost 80,000 cases, a 10% increase from the previous year, according to Ministry of Justice data. The open caseload stood at 78,329 at the end of June, up from 70,893 a year earlier, with waiting times for trial dates stretching up to four years.
The figures show a 20% increase in sexual offence cases in the backlog, rising from 11,062 to 13,238, while violence against the person cases rose 15% to 24,364. The number of rape cases reaching court hit a peak of 1,291, a 21% annual increase. The median age of open cases also rose by 10% year-on-year.
Riel Karmy-Jones KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, described the system as 'crumbling and unsustainable', noting that Isleworth Crown Court had offered a trial date in October 2029. Justice Secretary David Lammy said victims faced 'unacceptable waits' and announced that Sir Brian Leveson has been asked to propose bold reforms, including potentially removing the right to jury trial for some offences.
A report by the Law Society highlighted that crumbling court buildings, with issues such as asbestos, mould, and flooding, are contributing to the backlog. Meanwhile, the magistrates court backlog also hit a new record of 361,027 cases, up 25% from a year earlier.
