The UK government has abandoned controversial plans to expand judge-alone trials in criminal cases, the Justice Secretary announced, as ministers prioritise other reforms aimed at clearing a record backlog that has left victims waiting years for justice.
According to a statement published by the Ministry of Justice, Alex Norris said he had “heard the strength of feeling” on proposals to increase the number of Crown Court trials held without a jury. Instead, the government will focus on fast-tracking broader changes to drive down the nearly 81,000 cases currently stuck in the Crown Court system.
“This government inherited criminal courts on the brink of collapse, with victims waiting years for their day in court,” Norris said. He pledged that under the revised approach, “we do not have victims waiting endlessly for justice.”
Changes to the Courts Bill
The amendments will be made to the Courts and Tribunals Bill when it returns to Parliament on 13 October. Under the revised proposals, most serious criminal cases will continue to be heard before a jury, preserving what the government called “the cornerstone of British justice.”
However, technical and lengthy fraud or financial offences will still be permitted to proceed with a judge sitting alone. The Ministry of Justice said this would spare jurors from the personal and financial burdens of complex trials that can stretch over many months.
Other measures in the Bill include giving magistrates the power to impose longer sentences, enabling lower courts to handle more cases and reduce pressure on the Crown Court. Courts will also gain final authority over where cases are heard, closing a loophole that allows some defendants accused of relatively minor crimes to elect jury trial in an attempt to delay proceedings or avoid custody.
Record backlog and new technology
Recent figures confirmed that the Crown Court backlog has reached an all-time high. Of the nearly 81,000 outstanding cases, almost one in three has been waiting a year or longer. The government acknowledged that no single reform can reverse years of underinvestment and systemic delays.
To support the changes, millions of pounds will be invested in new technology to modernise outdated court infrastructure and reduce inefficiencies. Judges will receive additional resources to hear more cases, and artificial intelligence may be deployed to assist with case scheduling, according to Sarah Sackman KC, Minister for Courts and Legal Services.
“Whether that is using AI to support the listing of cases, rolling out further virtual hearings, or taking steps to ensure defendants arrive to court on time, we will turn the tide and deliver the swifter justice victims deserve,” Sackman said.
When the Bill returns to Parliament, the government will also introduce a statutory duty to assess how structural reforms affect ethnic minorities and people from different backgrounds. This review will be led by an independent examiner.
The Ministry of Justice is expected to publish its full response to both parts of a review by Lord Leveson in the coming weeks, setting out in detail the steps being taken to improve court efficiency.
What this means for Poles in the UK
For Polish residents in the UK who are victims of crime, witnesses, or defendants, the reforms aim to shorten waiting times for cases to be heard. If you are involved in a criminal case currently in the system, you may benefit from faster scheduling as magistrates take on more work and technology streamlines court administration. Jury trials will remain the standard for serious offences, so if you are called for jury service, there is no immediate change to your obligations.
If you are a victim waiting for a case to reach court, monitor updates from the Crown Prosecution Service or Victim Support for progress on your case. The government has committed to bringing down the backlog, but officials acknowledge it will take time. The Courts and Tribunals Bill is due for debate from 13 October, and further detail on implementation timelines will follow in the government’s response to Lord Leveson’s review, expected within weeks.
Anyone needing information about ongoing cases should contact the court or the Witness Care Unit handling their matter. Victim Support offers free, confidential help in multiple languages; check GOV.UK for contact details.
