Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Criminal Justice System: Backlog

Wednesday 1 February 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial questions addressed the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in handling case backlogs.
  • Edward Timpson noted a significant increase in ineffective Crown court trials due to prosecution absence since 2019.
  • Jerome Mayhew highlighted the opening of a new police response centre in Broadland, praising the CPS for its strong performance and quick charging decisions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP questions the effectiveness of the CPS in addressing the backlog of cases in the criminal justice system.

Question

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in tackling the backlog of cases in the criminal justice system?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

First, I would like to pay tribute to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Edward Timpson) for his work as Solicitor General. From that work, he will know the significant amount of funding in the criminal justice system to help improve waiting times for victims.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness of CPS in tackling case backlogs was not directly addressed.

How: Paid Tribute, Funding Increase

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Edward Timpson Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP raises concerns about the high number of ineffective Crown court trials due to prosecution absence and questions the CPS's ability to find enough prosecutors.

Question

Further to the point raised by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull East, in the first three quarters of 2022 there have been 235 ineffective Crown court trials caused by prosecution absence—the highest annual total since 2014—compared with just 19 in 2019. The recent uplift to defence fees has meant there is now more money in defending than in prosecuting, and consequently the CPS is struggling to find enough prosecutors for trials. What timescales is my hon. and learned Friend working to in order to address this situation?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for raising this point. Of course, I recognise the importance of ensuring that all those who work in the criminal justice system—both defence and prosecution—are paid and rewarded appropriately. He will have heard my answer earlier, and it is right that the Treasury has agreed to consider the CPS funding position. Discussions are ongoing, and I know that he will keep pressing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timescales for addressing ineffective Crown court trials were not provided.

How: Ongoing Discussions, Treasury Agreement

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP inquires about the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service since a March 2022 inspection report.

Question

The police are doing an excellent job in Broadland. They have just opened a new response centre at Postwick, improving response times and housing some of the many additional officers that this Government have provided. The CPS is the next line in the criminal justice journey. The CPS inspectorate undertook a report on local provision in March 2022. Can my hon. and learned Friend provide an update to the House on the performance since that date?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I recognise my hon. Friend's expertise and interest in this matter. The inspection report for the east of England praised the quality of the work in the area, and the latest data suggests that performance continues to be strong. The area is now making all crime charging decisions more quickly than it did previously. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that, in the face of the backlog, the conviction rate for the CPS in his region remains reassuringly high at 85%.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)