Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Court Backlogs

Tuesday 11 March 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government extended sentencing powers to free up capacity in the Crown court.
  • Government is recruiting an additional 2,000 magistrates annually from diverse backgrounds.
  • Steps taken include increasing sitting days in Crown courts to reduce backlogs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lee Dillon Lib Dem Newbury
Justice & Courts
Context

The previous government left a backlog of over 382,000 cases in magistrates courts. The new sentencing powers have been passed to free up capacity in the Crown court.

Question

I agree with the Minister’s assessment of the previous Conservative Government. However, with more than 382,000 cases still in the backlog for magistrates, have the Government done an assessment of whether that will increase, given the doubled sentencing powers that have been passed down to those courts?

Answer from The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Sarah Sackman)

The magistrates court is being run in a sustainable way. We extended the sentencing powers in order to free up capacity in the Crown court, and that has been sustainable, and we are increasing capacity in our magistracy by recruiting an additional 2,000 magistrates from diverse backgrounds every year. But that is why we are looking at system reform, whether in the magistrates court or the Crown courts. We are going to need once-in-a-generation reform, and when Sir Brian Leveson reports back, that is what we will get.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment of whether the backlog will increase due to new sentencing powers was not addressed.

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Q2 Baggy Shanker Labour (Co-op) Derby South
Justice & Courts
Context

Only 4% of rape and sexual offences reported to Derbyshire police in the last year resulted in a charge. Victims are losing faith in the justice system due to delays.

Question

Shockingly, just 4% of rape and sexual offences reported to Derbyshire police in the last year resulted in a charge. When offenders are not prosecuted, victims understandably lose faith in our justice system. What steps has the Minister taken to reduce backlogs in Derbyshire courts so that justice can be served for these despicable crimes?

Answer from The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Sarah Sackman)

I am sorry to hear how long victims in my hon. Friend’s constituency are waiting. That is why we are taking urgent action to bear down on the Crown court backlog, not only by increasing sitting days this year, but by committing to record numbers of sitting days next year. Of course that will not be sufficient to bring down the backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims, and that is why we need to hear from Sir Brian Leveson and implement reform in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps taken to reduce backlogs in Derbyshire were not detailed.

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