Crown Court backlogs

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 31 Oct 2024 Closed: 16 May 2025 Parliament page
In March 2022, the Committee found that the COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated a growing backlog of cases waiting to be tried in the criminal courts, significantly affecting defendants, victims and witnesses. The report found that the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) meagre ambition to reduce the Crown Court case backlog by … Read more
4 Recommendations
28 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 events
4 Sep
2025
Correspondence
19 May
2025
Correspondence
16 May
2025
Report published
5 Mar
2025
Report published
27 Jan
2025
Correspondence
9 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
9 Jan
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
9 Jan 2025
View on parliament.uk
Dame Antonia Romeo DCB · Ministry of Justice Daniel Flury · HM Courts and Tribunals Service Jerome Glass · Ministry of Justice Nick Goodwin · HMCTS
Title HC No. Published Items Response
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs HC 348 5 Mar 2025 32 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
4 Conclusion Deferred
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
Urgently reduce remand numbers to 2019 levels and publish granular remand population data.
The remand population is at its highest number for 50 years, and the length of time some defendants on remand wait for their cases to be heard is disrupting their lives and their families’ lives, and adding to prison overcrowding. … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees but deflects responsibility for reducing remand numbers to the independent judiciary and its existing actions. It will consider further steps only after receiving recommendations from the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion Deferred
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
Committee took evidence on reducing the Crown Court case backlog.
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) about reducing the backlog of cases in the Crown Court.1
Government Response
The government agrees but deflects responsibility, stating it will consider implementation plans for reforms from the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts once its recommendations are received.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion Deferred
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
MoJ's ambition to reduce the Crown Court backlog is contingent on the Leveson Review.
When asked about its current ambition for the level of open Crown Court cases, MoJ said that the crucial factor in achieving a reduction in the backlog is the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts (the Leveson Review), which MoJ … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the Committee's perspective, stating that work is already underway to prepare for a swift response and implementation of recommendations from the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts once received in July 2025, and that MoJ is actively considering implementation plans for proposed reform options.
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion Deferred
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
MoJ and HMCTS acknowledge numerous backlog issues but are deferring action pending the Leveson Review.
We heard of the many issues that MoJ and HMCTS know need addressing if they are to reduce the backlog, but which they are waiting for the Leveson review to report on: poor case preparation, defendants being absent or not … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion, outlining numerous ongoing actions to reduce the Crown Court backlog. However, it acknowledges these are insufficient for substantial reform and confirms its reliance on the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts (Leveson Review) which is due in Spring 2025, with work already underway to plan for implementing its recommendations.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Deferred
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
MoJ and HMCTS's excessive reliance on the Leveson Review risks further backlog growth.
The Leveson Review is expected to report in two parts: firstly, in late Spring 2025 on options for long–term reform, and then not until Autumn 2025 on efficiency and timeliness.22 Until those reports, MoJ told us that it expects the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's concern, outlining extensive ongoing work to reduce the Crown Court backlog. However, it acknowledges that these actions are insufficient for substantial reform and confirms its anticipation of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts' recommendations in Spring 2025, with plans already being considered for swift response and implementation.
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion Deferred
12th Report - Crown Court backlogs
Backlog directly correlates with remand population, increasing prison pressures and leading to 'time served' releases.
MoJ told us that there is a direct correlation between the number of cases in the backlog and the size of the remand population awaiting trial, and that this is adding to prison capacity pressures and making it harder to … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion, noting judges already prioritise remand cases and existing actions should help. However, it states the Lord Chancellor will continue discussions on prioritisation, the MoJ is exploring initiatives to address time spent on remand, and will consider further steps once it receives recommendations from the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 4 classified
Accepted 17
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 6
Total 4 recs + 28 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
4 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive at HM Prison and Probation Service and the Chief Executive at HM Courts and Tribunal Service relating to a follow up on the responses to the 12th and 15th Reports of Session 2024-25, Crown Court backlogs and Prison estate capacity, 15 July 2025
Parliament page
19 May 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of HM Courts & Tribunals Service relating to the 12th Report of Session 2024-25, Crown Court Backlog, Recommendation 5, 08 May 2025
Parliament page
27 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive at HM Courts and Tribunals Service relating to the Crown Courts Backlog oral evidence session held on 09 January 2025, 22 January 2025
Parliament page