The government has pledged additional funding to address the unprecedented backlog in Crown Courts across England and Wales, aiming to reduce delays and deliver swifter justice for victims.
This year, an extra 1,250 Crown Court sitting days will be created nationwide to accelerate the processing of cases, announced Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice David Lammy. This move comes as official figures reveal that the Crown Court backlog has reached a record high for the ninth consecutive quarter.
Between April and June this year alone, 1,400 new cases were added to the backlog, bringing the total to 78,329 cases nationwide. Notably, the backlog contains a record 13,238 sexual offence cases, including 4,086 adult rape cases and 1,759 involving child rape.
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The backlog situation is particularly severe in Avon and Somerset, where 3,365 cases were awaiting trial between March and June, marking the highest level recorded to date. This figure has risen sharply from 3,213 cases a year prior and more than doubled compared to June 2019, when the backlog stood at just 1,569 cases.
Sexual offence cases continue to weigh heavily on Avon and Somerset’s court system, with 411 such cases currently pending—up from 346 last year. These include 174 adult rape cases and 55 cases involving child rape.
David Lammy emphasized the human impact behind these statistics: “The Crown Court backlog we inherited stands at over 78,000 and behind each case is a real person, waiting years for justice. That is why we are acting with the biggest investment on record as part of our Plan for Change.”
He added, “An additional 1,250 sitting days will be allocated to the Crown Court this financial year, allowing it to hear many extra cases. We know there is more to do, and generational reform that cannot wait, but this investment will help ease the torment and bring swifter justice to many more victims.”