Victims face years-long waits for justice as UK court backlogs spiral

• Dozens of criminal trials, including serious offences, are delayed until 2030, with over 2,600 Crown Court cases, including 206 rape trials, not due until 2028, and 625 more not due until 2029.
• The delays are causing "inhumane" waits for victims, leading to personal hardship and preventing recovery, according to Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman.
• Justice Secretary David Lammy is proceeding with controversial plans to curb jury trials for cases with likely sentences under three years, aiming to reduce the backlog of nearly 80,000 Crown Court cases.
• The Ministry of Justice warns the backlog could exceed 200,000 by 2035, acknowledging that the situation will deteriorate before any improvements are seen.
• Legal bodies, including the Bar Council and Law Society, strongly oppose the proposed jury trial reforms, arguing they undermine constitutional principles and will not effectively address the court crisis.

IN FULL

Victims facing ‘inhumane’ delays for justice as criminal cases take four years to go to trial