Courts & Legal System
30 countersThe crown court backlog in England and Wales stands at over 65,000 cases with an average wait exceeding 18 months — a crisis the Lord Chief Justice has described as the worst in living memory. Over 16,000 people are held on remand awaiting trial, some for more than two years. Legal aid funding has been cut by 32% since 2012 meaning approximately 5.4 million people cannot afford legal representation. Courts and justice statistics are sourced from the Ministry of Justice, HMCTS, the Legal Aid Agency and the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Crown Court Cases in Backlog Right Now
Backlog Change Since January 1st
Average Wait for Crown Court Case
Cases Waiting Over 1 Year for Trial
Cases Waiting Over 2 Years for Trial
Court Cases Heard Today
Court Cases Heard This Year
Legal Aid Grants This Year
Cost of Legal Aid Today
Cost of Legal Aid This Year
Judicial Reviews Filed This Year
Judicial Reviews Won Against Government This Year
Employment Tribunal Cases This Year
Employment Tribunal Backlog
Small Claims Cases Filed This Year
Divorce Proceedings Started This Year
Child Custody Cases This Year
Injunctions Granted This Year
People Representing Themselves in Court
Cases Dropped Due to Evidence Issues This Year
Wrongful Convictions Overturned This Year
People on Remand Awaiting Trial
Average Time Spent on Remand
Cost of Remand to Taxpayer This Year
Barristers and Solicitors in UK
Law Firms in UK
Cost of Legal System to Economy Today
Cost of Legal System to Economy This Year
Legal Aid Funding Reduction Since 2012
People Unable to Afford Legal Representation
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How long is the UK court backlog in 2026?
The Crown Court backlog in England and Wales stands at over 65,000 cases, with some defendants waiting over four years for trial. The total court case backlog across all courts is estimated to grow by approximately 1,000 cases per year. The Ministry of Justice has invested significantly in reducing delays since the COVID-19 pandemic.
How many employment tribunals are there in the UK each year?
Approximately 200,000 employment tribunal claims are lodged in the UK each year, according to HMCTS statistics. Cases include unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay and whistleblowing claims. Average waiting times for employment tribunal hearings have extended to over 18 months in some regions.
How much does legal aid cost the UK each year?
Legal aid costs the UK government approximately £1.8 billion per year, funding around 800,000 grants of legal aid annually across criminal defence, family and civil cases. The legal aid budget has been reduced by approximately 40% in real terms since 2010, leading to a significant increase in unrepresented litigants.
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