The government has announced a record high increase in Crown Court sitting days to 110,000 in the next financial year, 4,000 more than was initially allocated the previous year.
In response, Bar Council Chair Barbara Mills KC said: “We welcome the record increase in Crown Court sitting days to the highest it has been in a decade. This positive step is the first in a long list of measures needed to restore our criminal justice system. We know that the justice system we have works best when properly resourced. Rather than introducing new courts, by investing in more sitting days we can begin to grapple with the backlog and restore public trust and confidence. Ultimately, if we are to reduce the delays and impact on victims, witnesses, and defendants, there should be no limit on the number of days courts can sit.”
The government announcement comes as two reports published this week highlight the impact of the Crown Court backlog. The new report from the Victims' Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, reveals the impact of delays on victims, victim services and the wider criminal justice system. The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee have also published a report highlighting the backlog’s impact on victims of crime and their families as prison population on remand awaiting trial swells to the highest level in 50 years.
Read the Bar Council recommendations submitted to the independent sentencing review as well as the review of the criminal justice system earlier this year.