Labour dodges question on radical reforms to courts as victims face 2029 wait | Politics | News
Ministers will respond this autumn to Sir Brian’s recommendations to overhaul the courts to “reduce the risk of a complete collapse of the system”.
Sir Brian said thousands of cases usually heard by judges should be considered by judges alone.
Another suggestion is to take more out-of-court decisions such as warnings.
He wants a new division of two judges and a magistrate at the crown court to be established to deal with less serious crimes and increase the number of sentence reductions for those who plead guilty at the first opportunity offered.
In both cases, offenses that carry a maximum prison sentence of two years or less and can be heard in the crown court or magistrates’ court, such as drug possession, bicycle theft and voyeurism, may face lower sentences of 12 months or less.
Defendants will also no longer be able to opt for a jury trial in cases involving crimes such as assaulting an emergency worker, stalking and possessing an indecent photograph of a child.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Lady Levitt said: “As of June 2025, the average time from charge to main hearing in the crown court for all crown court cases, whether a criminal charge or a contested trial, is 241 days.
“This is 14 days fewer than the same quarter last year, a drop of 5%, so there is some improvement, but overall the crown court backlog inherited by the Government continues to rise, meaning victims are waiting too long for justice.
“The government appointed Sir Brian Leveson to propose reforms. We are considering his report carefully and will respond in due course.”
Conservative former senior law officer Lord Garnier said: “The Minister will recall from his time as a crown court judge that the time between a case first coming to the crown court and being listed for hearing was becoming increasingly longer.
“It is now likely that the old court has cases listed for 2028 and 2029.
“This is unacceptable for the victims, the witnesses and even the defendant.
“It takes some will and leadership to break this.
“What does the government plan to do about this?
“The extra 1,250 days promised to the system by the Lord Chancellor the other day can be completed by the old palace in just one year.
“Please let’s take some action.”
In response, the Minister said: “I couldn’t agree more with the basic premise of the question.
“This is completely unacceptable and behind every one of these statistics there are people demanding justice.
“Our initial reaction is that we plan to fund a record 111,250 sitting days at the crown court, free up an additional 2,000 days at the crown court by increasing the magistrates’ sentencing powers from six months to 12 months, and make some capital investment.
“But it is clear to everyone that simply providing efficiency and subsidizing the system will not solve the problem.
“The backlog is now twice what it was pre-Covid, which is why the Government has asked Sir Brian Leveson to look at key reforms to how the system works.”
Pressed for a deadline, the leading Labor member said: “I am sure Members will find that the recommendations made by Sir Brian Leveson, to whom we are enormously grateful, are sound and far-reaching.
“They will have a potentially radical impact on our justice system as we know it and it is right that the Government takes these into account and takes the time to ensure there are no unforeseen impacts on other parts of the system (for example, on prison property).
“Can the prison administration cope if more people are sent to prison?
“That’s why impact assessments are being carried out and we will respond as soon as we are confident that what we are proposing will actually work.”
Sir Brian’s recommendations are expected to save around 9,000 sitting days at the crown court each year due to some key changes, such as diverting cases to magistrates’ courts, or a new type of crown court, where cases are heard by judges.
Juries will be reserved for hearing the most serious cases.
