Courts in crisis with some trials delayed until 2029

Britain’s ailing courts system now has trials scheduled to open no sooner than 2029 – almost four years away – as the government struggles to tackle the lengthening backlog of cases, The Independent can reveal.

- TOM LATCHEM

The first hearing, scheduled over two days, is set to begin on 3 January that year at Woolwich Crown Court, in which a 38-year-old mother from south London will face a charge of possession with intent to supply cannabis, which she denies. In the second, likely to last three days, three men will stand trial at the same court, on 15 January, over the theft of motor vehicles, which they also deny.

The cases were described by Stephen Nelson, the barrister representing the woman and one of the men, as “straightforward and not complicated" – and said the delays were “jaw-dropping”. He warned that one client was in poor health and might not live to see his case come to trial in 2029.

With around 75,000 crown court cases waiting to be heard, Ministry of Justice officials, who admit “justice delayed is justice denied”, confirmed that the cases were among the furthest into the future that have been set.

The government is due to unveil the outcome of its long-awaited sentencing review, led by the former justice secretary David Gauke, which is expected to overhaul the justice system with plans for shorter jail terms and increased use of community punishments.

Mary Prior KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), said the court delays, combined with the time it takes for people to be charged, mean some offences now take six years to reach trial – an “extraordinary” situation which is failing victims of crime, defendants, witnesses, and wider society.

She said: “It cannot be right for victims of crime, eyewitnesses and those accused of crimes to have to wait until 2029 for their trial to take place.