Background
HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for the administration of courts in England and Wales. The criminal courts are experiencing a significant backlog of cases at both Magistrate and Crown Courts.
In 2024, we reported on backlogs in the Crown Court. We found that the extend of backlogs had contributed to prison population pressures. Victims, witnesses, and defendants are waiting longer for their cases to be heard in the Crown Court compared with before the pandemic.
Scope
There are several factors that influence HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s operation of the courts and its steps to improve efficiency, including workforce planning. This report will examine the steps being taken by HM Courts and Tribunals Service to improve court efficiency through its workforce planning and related activity.
NAO team
Director: Jonny Mood
Senior Audit Manager: Jenny Brown