Courts relocate hearings to tackle backlog
updated on 27 November 2024
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To address the national backlog of cases, earlier in November judges moved hearings from crown courts in Ipswich and St Albans to Cambridge, as well as nearby magistrates' buildings in St Albans and Peterborough.
This decision was made by the presiding judges and the HM Courts & Tribunals Service. The National Audit Office data shows that more than 25% of cases are waiting over a year to be heard, with the crown court backlog reaching record levels. One senior barrister said moves to cut court waiting lists were to be welcomed but also added: "People at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale will probably be most vulnerable.
"If people don't have cars and have to rely on public transport, then that will take time and mean expense for them."
In August, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Helen Newlove, launched a survey with the aim to "understand the impact" of court waiting times on crime victims. This survey is still open for submissions.
Check out this guide to the legal profession to find out more about court backlogs and other major issues impacting the profession. Plus, read this Wrestle with PESTLE to discover more about access to justice and the role of legal aid.
