Ten cases a day – how ‘blitz courts’ could tackle the Crown Court backlog

Ten cases a day – how ‘blitz courts’ could tackle the Crown Court backlog

At Nottingham Crown Court, a man with a neutral expression stood in the dock as the first case of the day. He had shared explicit photos of his genitals with a 13-year-old girl and was found in possession of nearly 200 child pornography images. The judge, Michael Auty KC, described him as a “depraved individual” and sentenced him to a two-year suspended prison term. Alongside this, he was mandated to complete 118 hours of unpaid community service and registered as a sex offender for a decade.

Following this, the judge addressed a case involving a 27-year-old man who had sent intimate images to a 14-year-old girl and solicited her for sexual activity. The defendant was apprehended by a paedophile-hunter group after planning to meet her outside an Asda store. His sentence mirrored the previous offender’s. The courtroom’s pace was brisk, with ten cases processed in just over five hours. This marked the start of a series of rapid proceedings under the court’s blitz schedule.

Nottingham is one of several Crown Courts implementing “blitz” hearings, designed to address the growing backlog. Similar initiatives are also underway in London, the North East, and the North West of England. The government plans to expand this system to more courts, including the Old Bailey, starting this month. The goal is to fast-track cases, allowing faster resolutions and reducing delays.

During the day I observed, the judge handled a variety of cases, from drug-related offenses to theft and public disorder. One instance involved a married father-of-five who had shared naked images of a Muslim woman after having sex with her. He later attempted to blackmail her by threatening to expose the photos to her family if she didn’t continue sleeping with him. The judge called his actions “mean and manipulative,” resulting in a two-year suspended sentence.

“You’ve escaped jail by the skin of your teeth,” the judge remarked, emphasizing the severity of the offense.

The court’s approach includes grouping similar cases to streamline proceedings. This allows for efficient use of time, with sentences often predetermined based on comparable offenses. However, the judge noted that some cases could have been resolved earlier in magistrate courts, reducing pressure on the system.

Victims, some of whom face waits until 2030, argue that the delays are unacceptable. With 80,000 cases pending in Crown Courts and projections of over 100,000 by year’s end, the backlog has doubled since pre-pandemic levels. If no action is taken, it could reach 200,000 by 2035. Supporters claim blitz courts offer quicker justice, enabling rehabilitation without occupying prison slots.

From April, the Central Criminal Court will utilize two dedicated courts for blitz hearings, focusing on assault cases against emergency workers. Over 600 such cases remain unresolved, highlighting the urgency of the reform. The scheme is funded by £2.7bn allocated to courts and tribunals this financial year, a £200m increase from the prior period.