Overview

• The backlog climbed from 74,592 at the end of December 2024, representing an 11 percent rise from March 2024’s 69,021 cases.
• Some 18,093 cases have been open for over a year, the highest level since current tracking began.
• Courts and legal services minister Sarah Sackman KC warned that at the current pace the backlog could exceed 100,000 cases before 2028 without radical changes.
• An independent review led by Sir Brian Leveson is due to publish recommendations for overhauling court procedures in the coming weeks.
• Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has scheduled a record 110,000 crown court sitting days next year, and the government will implement sentencing reforms from David Gauke’s review.