IfG publishes commentary on Leveson review of criminal courts
The Institute for Government (IfG) has published a commentary on Sir Brian Leveson’s review of the criminal courts, which sets out proposals to address the backlog in the Crown Court system in England and Wales. The review recommends reducing the use of jury trials by retaining more cases in magistrates’ courts, establishing a new Crown Court Bench Division composed of a judge and two magistrates, and allowing judge-only trials in certain serious and complex cases, particularly complex fraud. These measures are presented as pragmatic responses to increasing case complexity and the volume of digital evidence, with an estimated saving of up to 9,000 sitting days annually. While the IfG acknowledges the urgency of reform, it questions whether restricting jury trials is necessary. It notes that overall demand on the courts remains below early 2010s levels and that the total time spent on jury trials has declined by nearly 25% since 2016. The commentary attributes the backlog primarily to a decline in court productivity, citing staffing shortages, infrastructure limitations and operational inefficiencies. It concludes that targeted investment and operational reform could reduce delays without significantly altering the role of jury trials in the justice system.