Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts – Part 1 Report

09 July 2025 · Ministry of Justice

Proposed by Shabana Mahmood Lab Birmingham Ladywood

Justice & Courts

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

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • Independent Review of the Criminal Courts Part 1 Report is addressed by the minister on 2025-07-09
  • The minister welcomes Sir Brian Leveson's recommendations regarding the court backlog
  • Government plans to respond fully in the Autumn after considering the review's findings

Issue summary

The statement addresses the backlog in the UK's criminal courts and the independent review conducted by Sir Brian Leveson.

Action requested

The minister welcomes Sir Brian Leveson's recommendations and commits to considering them before setting out a full government response in the Autumn. The goal is to reduce waiting times for victims and create a more sustainable justice system.

Key facts

  • As of March 2025, the outstanding caseload in the Crown Court is at a record high of 76,957 cases.
  • Projections suggest that by March 2029, open cases could reach 105,000 if no action is taken.
  • The report recommends restricting the right to elect for more cases to be heard in Magistrates' Courts and removing juries from some Crown Court trials.
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