Commenting on the latest criminal court statistics covering July to September 2025, Tom Franklin, Chief Executive of the Magistrates’ Association, said:
“We have consistently called for reform to deal with the crisis in our justice system, and to ensure that victims, witnesses and defendants can get the justice that they deserve. The latest court backlog figures are disappointing, but not surprising, and without reform, we believe they will continue heading in the wrong direction.
“While the backlog of cases in the magistrates’ court is at a new record, this figure still represents around 6 month’s worth of cases. But it is in the crown court – where the backlog of 79,619 cases means that cases there are being scheduled well into 2029 – where the backlog is most acute, and where, due to the more serious nature of the cases, delays have a far greater impact on victims, witnesses and defendants.
“As we said in our response to the government’s recent proposals to reform the criminal courts, we need to see more resources put into the magistrates’ courts to maximise the success of these changes, and so ensure speedier justice. These include ensuring there are enough trained and well-paid legal advisers (without whom magistrates cannot hear cases); repairing and maintaining the crumbling court buildings and court rooms so they are safe and fit for purpose; and agreeing a long-term and strategic plan for the recruitment, retention, training and recognition of magistrates – so that people from all walks of life will want to volunteer as a magistrate, and will not be left out of pocket for doing so.”
