The Independent has been told of numerous trials involving bailed defendants accused of serious sexual and violent crimes not due to start for well over two years - even before facing any of the last-minute delays frequently blighting the crown courts, often setting trials back further by months and leaving victims waiting for justice.
Experts warned that trials involving suspects who have been refused bail are frequently being scheduled for late 2025, far beyond the intended six-month remand period, serving to fuel the overcrowding crisis in prisons - where the population of such inmates is at a record high.
Warning that one of his clients was last month given a trial date in April 2027, leading criminal barrister Maximillian Hardy said: "The courts have become a hoarder's house and you can't even get over the threshold any more. This is not justice delayed: it's justice drowned."
While a data error has prevented the government from publishing statistics on the crown courts' performance for the past six months, experts say the number of trials backlogged in the system is now likely at a record high, in excess of 70,000 cases - up from fewer than 33,000 in 2019.
With trials often subject to further last-minute delays after being scheduled, figures previously obtained by this publication suggested the number of cases waiting more than three years for a verdict had soared at least sevenfold since 2019 to exceed 1,280 last June.
Denne historien er fra October 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra October 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Tuchel left with big calls to make after Carsley refresh
No pressure, Thomas. Lee Carsley hands over to Thomas Tuchel promising to give England’s next manager a comprehensive debrief on the three autumn camps but perhaps also elevating expectations. Not so much with the results – promotion in the Nations League was anticipated for a team ranked fourth in the world and who reached the final of Euro 2024 – as with his assessment of England’s prospects for the time covered by Tuchel’s 18-month deal.
Wiegman calls up uncapped trio for injury-hit Lionesses
England manager Sarina Wiegman is confident Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Ruby Mace can both make the most of their first senior call-ups to an injury-hit squad.
Wales promoted as Cullen double freezes out Iceland
Wales won Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two international goals helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.
Retail bosses gifted excuse for when things go wrong
It’s not just British farmers who are hacked off by the latest Budget some of the biggest names in retail have now joined forces to send one of those angry, multi-signature letters to the chancellor, scolding her for the imminent tax hikes coming their way.
Jaguar pounces on new logo
Car giant Jaguar has unveiled a new logo and a rebranded range of electric cars alongside marketing slogans such as “delete ordinary,” “live vivid,” and “copy nothing.”
OF UNSOUND MIND
A disquieting mood permeates the BBC's 'The Listeners', the complex story of a teacher whose life unravels after she starts hearing a ceaseless, mysterious hum, writes Nick Hilton
It's grit over gloss in photo show's eye on the Eighties
Protest, poverty and privilege - The 80s: Photographing Britain at Tate Britain offers an exciting, if partial, view of a decade that remains highly polarising, writes Mark Hudson
Publicly-owned rail may not get us back on right track
Nationalisation is often touted as a golden ticket to a better train service. Simon Calder is less optimistic it will work
CAFFEINE FIX
Why does a squirt of syrup in your coffee at Christmas burn such a massive hole in your wallet? Olivia Petter finds out.
Longing and loss: our era of British cinematic elegance
It is four decades since A Room with a View’ made Merchant Ivory a household name. Sarah Sands recalls a world in which her brother Kit and her then husband Julian were central
