Court Backlogs

11 Mar

Question

Court Backlogs

The session in the House of Commons focused on the growing concern regarding court backlogs and aimed at understanding government measures to address these issues. Mr. Lee Dillon of the Liberal Democrats initiated the query by directly asking the government what steps were being taken to tackle court backlogs. The dialogue highlighted the pressing need to streamline processes in the judiciary to address delays that impact victims, businesses, and the broader justice system.

110,000 Crown court sitting days

Commitment from the government to handle backlog

The Minister, Sarah Sackman, provided a defensive yet informative response, pointing out the inherited judicial inefficiencies from the previous government and emphasizing current efforts. Notably, the government committed to 110,000 Crown court sitting days to alleviate pressures. Sackman acknowledged the criticism, countering that introducing extended magistracy sentencing powers and maintaining a strategic increase in magistrate recruitment would help manage and control the backlog sustainably. Baggy Shanker, representing Labour from Derby South, highlighted the troubling state of low prosecution rates in serious crimes like rape in Derbyshire, urging a swift response and systemic reforms.

382,000 cases in magistrates backlog

Current backlog status noted by Mr. Dillon

The debate was marked by a significant call for a transformation in the judicial process, with a reliance on Sir Brian Leveson’s forthcoming report to spearhead future reforms.

4% charge rate for reported rape and sexual offences in Derbyshire

Statistics highlighted by Baggy Shanker to emphasize inefficiency in prosecuting serious crimes

Outcome

The session concluded with an acknowledgment of the ongoing backlog issue and a reiterated commitment from the government to further judgments and reforms based on planned and awaited evaluations by judicial reform authorities. There was no immediate resolution but rather a reinforced intention to address the core systemic problems.

Key Contributions

Mr Lee DillonMember

Liberal Democrats

Queried about measures to tackle court backlogs, emphasizing the current backlog of 382,000 cases in magistrates' courts and potential implications of increased sentencing powers.

Sarah SackmanMinister

Defended against criticisms of the current government by commenting on inherited judicial inefficiencies.

Baggy Shanker

Labour

Raised concerns over low prosecution rates for rape and sexual offences in Derbyshire, linking the issue to court backlogs and urging for quicker justice.

Original Transcript

Mr Lee Dillon

Newbury

Question

UIN: 903125

18. What steps she is taking to tackle backlogs in the courts.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice

Sarah Sackman

00:00

The last Government left a mess in every single corner of our justice system—our criminal courts and our civil courts. In the process, they let down not just victims of crime but businesses, employees, employers and children in care; every part of our system was left in a complete mess.

That is what we are sorting out, with record Crown court sitting days—a commitment of 110,000 sitting days—and running almost to a maximum across all jurisdictions to bring down the backlog. We are sorting out the mess that we were left with.

Mr Dillon

00:00

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?

Sarah Sackman

00:00

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.

Baggy Shanker

Derby South

Lab/Co-op

12:11

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?

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.

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