UK Plans Cuts Crown Court Trials to Reduce 77,000-Case Backlog

The UK government, led by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and guided by a review from former High Court judge Sir Brian Leveson, is proposing significant reforms to address a severe backlog of 77,000 crown court cases. Key measures include scrapping jury trials for certain drug dealers, sex offenders, and mid-level offences, instead introducing an 'intermediate court' where a judge and two magistrates preside. The reforms also aim to expand the use of 'out of court resolutions' such as cautions and rehabilitation for lower-tier offences, potentially allowing many offenders to avoid criminal records. Additionally, the discount for early guilty pleas could increase from one-third to 40% of the sentence, which, combined with plans for offenders to serve only a third of their sentences, may result in some criminals serving less than a fifth of their nominal sentence. While Sir Brian Leveson warns of a potential collapse in the justice system without these changes, critics argue that these reforms risk undermining justice by allowing offenders to escape appropriate consequences and call for more investment in court capacity instead. The proposals are intended to prevent delays that have pushed trial dates to as far as 2029, with the government expected to decide on the recommendations later this year.