James Wild MP has called for the Lord Chancellor to do more to address the Crown Court backlog which now stands at 73,000 cases and is set to increase.
During recent question time in the House of Commons, James challenged the Solicitor General on the growing delays within the justice system, highlighting the impact this is having on victims, witnesses, and defendants.
The backlog continues to grow and James focused on maximising court sitting days which builds on his record of advocating for practical reforms within the justice system. Previously, he successfully campaigned for amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, securing powers for judges to compel offenders to attend sentencing hearings for serious crimes.
Recent data reveals that some victims are waiting up to 1,000 days for their day in court, prolonging their trauma and potentially compromising the quality of evidence and witness testimony.
James Wild MP said:
“Justice delayed is justice denied. Will the Solicitor General confirm that the court backlog is rising rather than falling, and can she explain why the Lord Chancellor has not maximised the number of sitting days so that victims of rape and other serious crimes do not have to wait unduly for their cases to be heard?”
The Solicitor General replied:
“The criticism would carry a little more weight were it not for the fact that the Conservatives spent the last 14 years driving up the record court backlog. The root causes of the backlog are a direct result of the Conservatives’ choices. The previous Government closed over 260 court buildings, and the record court backlog now stands at 73,000 cases. As we have said, the human cost of those delays is considerable - victims are waiting years for justice.
The Lord Chancellor is taking robust action. She has increased the number of Crown court sitting days, increased magistrate courts’ sentencing powers and asked Sir Brian Leveson to lead an independent review of our criminal courts to look at options for longer-term reform. The previous Government did not act; they drove up the backlog. This Government are taking action.”
