The UK criminal justice system is grappling with significant challenges, including an unprecedented backlog in Crown Court cases and a prison capacity crisis. The National Audit Office (NAO) has concluded that the government's target to reduce the backlog is no longer achievable, with more than 6,000 cases being two years or older. This backlog has led to significant delays, with rape victims waiting over a year for court cases. The Bar Chair, Sam Townend KC, attributes the crisis to long-term demands placed on the system without adequate resources. Yvette Cooper has criticized the government for its handling of prison capacity, highlighting that more criminals are being let off due to the system's failures. The chair of the justice committee, Bob Neill, has called for a cross-party prioritization of prisons and sentencing policy. Additionally, the number of trials canceled on the hearing day due to the unavailability of legal professionals has risen sharply to 1,436, exacerbating the crisis. The NAO report warns that delays are risking cases collapsing as victims and witnesses may withdraw or their memories of evidence decline over time. Despite a £477 million investment to curb delays, the backlog remains worse than before. Mary Prior KC from The Criminal Bar will be discussing the human realities for complainants, victims, and defendants caught up in these delays.
National Audit Office says MoJ needs to work closely with other parts of criminal justice system to understand bigger picture. @MonidipaFouzder https://t.co/nR3D7w1NCd
Crown court backlog target 'no longer achievable', says public spending watchdog: National Audit Office: Ministry of Justice ambition over Crown court backlog 'no longer achievable' | Law Gazette
A target to clear criminal court backlogs won't be met, says spending watchdog https://t.co/H11ixGbbSG
⚖️ Reducing court case backlog ‘unachievable’, says audit office Learn more from @charleshymas ⬇️ https://t.co/FldD66HbMf
National Audit Office: Ministry of Justice ambition over Crown court backlog 'no longer achievable' | Law Gazette
Crown court backlog target 'no longer achievable', says National Audit Office: National Audit Office: Ministry of Justice ambition over Crown court backlog 'no longer achievable' | Law Gazette
The National Audit Office @NAOorguksays report highlights how logjams in the system affect justice, the watchdog says delays are also risking cases collapsing because victims and witnesses may withdraw, and their memories of evidence decline over time. @Independent…
Reducing court backlogs is “unachievable” despite ministers’ ambitions, leaving victims facing an average wait of two years for justice, the public spending watchdog has found. @AlexChalkChelt @ShabanaMahmood https://t.co/bMbUuqW3vi https://t.co/cZx0m8qyf5
Court backlog target won't be met, says watchdog https://t.co/K2LBuHv3hQ
We have published our report on the Crown Court backlog, and what progress the Ministry of Justice has made in reducing the backlog. This was laid in Parliament before the general election was announced. Read our report here 👇 https://t.co/Pzg8nmKlCj
Mary Prior KC, Vice Chair, @TheCriminalBar will be discussing with @BBCr4today #R4Today from 710am the human realities for complainants, victims of crime, defendants, caught up in delays locked into record rising criminal case backlogs analysed in @NAOorguk’s independent report https://t.co/wVjE27ccH5 https://t.co/gP4ojiTMmI
Last year, the number of trials cancelled on the hearing day because not all legal professionals required were available rose to 1,436 (5% of trials), up from 71 (0.3% of trials) in 2019. @guardian publishes @NAOorguk “The NAO warns that court buildings not being fit for…
CBA Chair Tana Adkin KC: The independent @NAOorguk report forensically examines the consequences of the Ministry of Justice’s on-going failure to put into effect a long term strategic plan and related funding to a tried and tested formula: that every defendant charged and… https://t.co/sDzHgANs2o
Mary Prior KC, Vice Chair, @TheCriminalBar will be discussing with @BBCr4today #R4Today from 710 the human realities for complainants, victims of crime, defendants, caught up in delays locked into record, rising criminal case backlogs analysed in @NAOorguk’s independent report https://t.co/57oEcTzBHi https://t.co/gP4ojiTMmI
A new report by @NAOorguk shows the scale of the problem in criminal justice. The backlog is rising despite the work done by people in the system. Lack of counsel has shot up. Urgent funding is required by whichever new Government is in place in July. @TheCriminalBar https://t.co/DINu2vPqgV
The government’s target to reduce unprecedented criminal court backlogs in England and Wales cannot be met, the national spending watchdog @NAOorguk has concluded. “The NAO report confirms that which criminal practitioners have known for years - that the system remains in crisis… https://t.co/l5sy7uqCJh
Court backlog target in England and Wales no longer achievable, says NAO https://t.co/m7cQTvh2zg
🚨NEW Court Case Backlog Worse Now than Before £477 Million Investment to Curb Delays, New Report Reveals MoJ way off target of reducing court case backlog and more than 6,000 are two years or more old https://t.co/lCCSAbog7Z
The UK criminal court system has the highest backlog of unheard cases on record https://t.co/D5cBTxGAE8
Target to cut Crown Court backlog ‘no longer achievable’, finds NAO https://t.co/wOqijovvaN
Rape victims waiting a year or more for court cases as Rishi Sunak misses major target https://t.co/P2MMwDD4nw
“Because of the backlogs, trials are often handed to us at the last minute. It’s not uncommon to receive a trial the night before” Read @ipapernews @elliepeake talking to @moodybarrister who prosecutes and defends, keeps hope for victims of crime and accused alike, as do all our… https://t.co/HKSKySMBli
Britain’s prisons are crowded, violent and failing in their goal of rehabilitation. The government could take one simple step that would make them better: https://t.co/rpl2dTK57O 👇
In the face of an ongoing prison capacity crisis, chair of the justice committee @neill_bob calls for "a cross-party prioritisation of prisons and sentencing policy" ⬇️ https://t.co/kUNJZGFlln
Stop blaming barristers' strike for prison population crisis, says Bar Chair Sam Townend KC, adding: "The true cause is a long-term hike in demands the Government has placed on the criminal justice system while starving it of resources needed." Read on⬇️ https://t.co/GbYgJZ0ubZ
Yvette Cooper goes after the government for the lack of prison capacity. "The Minister's responses is just shocking, telling people they've never had it so good, faced with the crisis in the criminal justice system... the legacy of 14 years.. is more criminals let off..." https://t.co/rH62XxyfTE