Court Delays Reportedly Impeding Lives

According to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data, securing a jury trial at Newcastle Crown Court can take nearly a year once a case is listed, while at Teesside, the wait extends to eight months. Both victims and defendants experiencing these prolonged waits for their cases to proceed to court report that their lives are being “left on hold.” The MoJ stated its “commitment” to mitigating these delays, attributing the situation to inheriting “a criminal justice system in crisis.” A woman, whose identity the BBC has chosen to withhold, recounted waiting three years for allegations concerning her partner to be addressed, stating: “It’s stressful, it takes a toll on you.” She further commented: “You just want to give up and think what’s the point of taking it to court.” Olivia Gates, a defence solicitor with Middlesbrough law firm Watson Woodhouse, noted that some of her clients have endured years of waiting, a period that includes the time required for allegation investigations. She cited instances where individuals interviewed in 2020 for offences from 2018 saw charging take an additional five years, with their trials subsequently listed for two years later. Gates remarked: “The alleged offences are so long ago they’re struggling to recollect events,” adding, “Their lives are on hold.” Victims’ advocacy groups have indicated that the stress associated with awaiting court proceedings can result in complaints being withdrawn. Richinda Taylor, from the Redcar-based group Eva, which supports victims of domestic and sexual violence, commented: “For some women it can be really distressing to wait all that time and to have that hanging over them.” MoJ figures for 2023 reveal that, on average, resolving a case by jury in Newcastle took 48 weeks from its initial referral to the crown court. At Teesside Crown Court, the legal process required over eight months for completion; in York, it was six and a half months; Carlisle saw nearly five months; and Durham recorded 17 weeks. The MoJ issued a statement asserting: “This government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, with a record and rising crown court backlog. While we are bound by a difficult financial inheritance, we are committed to bearing down on it and reducing delays.”