Victims of crimes and those accused of them face a 'postcode lottery' wait for justice, with the Midlands among the worst affected regions, according to new data from the Law Society.
Rising backlogs in crown courts
The number of unresolved crown court cases in the West Midlands rocketed from 2,251 in the fourth quarter of 2016 to 4,236 in the same period of last year, a rise of 88 per cent. This was the biggest increase in percentage terms outside London. Crown courts deal with the most serious offences such as murder and rape.
The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, said the total crown court backlog had surged by 86 per cent across the same timeframe. In magistrates' courts, where most criminal cases are heard, the total backlog jumped by 70 per cent since 2019 to about 380,000 open cases in 2025.
Worst affected area
West Mercia, covering Worcestershire, Shropshire and Herefordshire, was the worst in the country for crown court case duration last year at 34.7 months – nearly three years.
The Law Society said: 'These delays affect every stage of the justice process and contribute to undue stress and uncertainty for those involved. The UK government must implement a broad package of measures and provide sustained investment in the justice system to repair this vital public service that we all rely on.'
'As the number of open cases grows, so do the delays in processing criminal court cases. The average time it takes to complete cases has also risen sharply with a 24 per cent surge in crown courts. These growing pressures on the justice system need urgent investment by the government to ensure it works better for all of us.'
Call for action
Society president Mark Evans said: 'This data shows a clear postcode lottery in access to timely justice. Cases are piling up and taking much longer to resolve. That has serious consequences for victims, witnesses and defendants who are left waiting years for resolution of their case. Without action to address both the backlog and the growing delays these disparities are likely to widen further, denying people access to justice. The UK government must invest in justice in a consistent and sustained way to the benefit of all.'
