Murder, rape and robbery trials on hold as crumbling RAAC concrete closes courts

28 September 2023 , 14:33

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More than 400,000 cases are waiting to be heard across the courts (Image: Getty Images)

The number of serious criminal cases waiting to get to court has reached a record high.

The Crown Court backlog hit 64,709 at the end of June this year, a 4% rise from the end of March. Some 17,649 of these cases have been waiting for a year or more, including a record 6,427 that have been delayed for more than two years.

The most serious crimes including murder, rape and robbery are heard in the Crown Court. In total more than 400,000 cases are waiting to be heard across the courts, according to official figures published today. The Magistrates’ Court’s backlog increased by 2% to 345,285 from the end of March to the end of June. Experts blamed staff shortages, overcrowded prisons and urgent repairs of courts, including of RAAC concrete for delays.

Labour criticised the Tories for failing to get a grip on waiting lists which are leaving victims, defendants and witnesses “being denied justice”. Shadow Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the continuing rise of this “shameful” courts backlog was “unacceptable and urgently needs addressing”.

"The fact that the courts backlog is at another record high is a direct result of 13 years of Conservative mismanagement and disastrous political decisions,” she said. Ms Mahmood explained staff shortages were a factor in the delays and said Labour has committed to increasing the number of prosecutors and to opening specialist rape courts to tackle the backlog.

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Lubna Shuja, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, blamed chronic shortages of lawyers and judges, overwhelmed prisons and a lack of government investment. She said delays have also been caused by urgent repairs of courts, including some having to be closed while crumbling RAAC concrete is removed and replaced.

“The long delays faced by victims and defendants in our courts are simply unacceptable and the government is failing to tackle the crisis,” she said. “People seeking justice – victims, witnesses, and defendants – are left in limbo waiting longer and longer to see it happen. Inaction is no longer an option. Urgent investment is needed right now across the entire criminal justice system to prevent it from totally collapsing.”

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “People who break the law must face justice, and more criminal cases are now reaching the Crown Court than at any point over the last two years.

“We are letting our courts run at full throttle - lifting the cap on the number of days courts can sit for a third year, recruiting more judges, and investing more in our courts, including in Magistrates’ courts where more than 90% of criminal cases are dealt with.”

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Sophie Huskisson