Justice Secretary Announces Record Court Sitting Days but Warns Backlog Will Still Grow

Shabana Mahmood reveals plans for 110,000 crown court sitting days in 2025, while acknowledging systemic challenges and delays for victims.

The Justice Secretary announced 110,000 sitting days for crown court judges in the next financial year, a 4,000-day increase from last year, to address case delays.
Despite the increase, the backlog of cases, now at 73,105 as of September 2024, is expected to grow due to the high volume of new cases entering the system.
The Leveson Review, expected this spring, will explore reforms such as expanding magistrates' court jurisdiction and creating intermediary courts to alleviate crown court pressures.
Funding for court maintenance will rise from £120 million to £148.5 million, but critics note this is a fraction of the £1.3 billion needed for repairs across the system.
Victims Commissioner and legal professionals have called for emergency funding for victim support services and uncapped court sitting days to better address delays.