Courts Backlog Needs Radical Solutions, Says Review Head
The head of a justice review highlights the urgent need for radical solutions to address the growing backlog in the courts system
Courts, Backlog, Justice Review, Sir Brian Leveson, England, Wales
London: The head of a major justice review, Sir Brian Leveson, is sounding the alarm about the backlog in the courts. He’s suggesting some pretty radical changes to tackle this crisis.
Sir Brian pointed out that the number of cases waiting to be heard is just not sustainable. Some listings are stretching all the way to 2027, which is wild.
He’s been brought in by the Government to take a good look at the system after the backlog hit a record high. He’s making it clear that this situation is unacceptable for everyone involved.
Victims, witnesses, and defendants are all feeling the strain. It’s tough for victims and witnesses to remember details after so long, and defendants are left hanging with allegations for years.
Sir Brian emphasized that the backlog is growing faster than cases can be resolved. He’s calling it a crisis that needs urgent attention.
When asked if the number of cases in the courts should be reconsidered, he agreed it’s a valid point. He’s looking into ways to divert some cases away from the criminal justice system.
One idea on the table is to ditch jury trials for certain cases and set up “intermediate” courts. These would have a judge and two magistrates for cases that are too serious for magistrates’ courts but not serious enough for crown courts.
There’s also talk about giving magistrates more power to hand down longer sentences to speed things up. Sir Brian has done a similar review before, and the changes made back then did help, but he believes we need even bolder solutions now.
Recently, the Ministry of Justice released some backlog figures, showing over 73,000 criminal cases waiting in England and Wales. That’s a 3% increase from the last quarter and nearly double what it was before the pandemic.
Among those cases, there are nearly 15,000 outstanding sexual offence cases, including over 3,000 for adult rape allegations. It’s a tough situation that needs addressing.