Lammy Announces Unlimited Court Sitting Days to Combat Massive Backlog
Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has unveiled a major policy shift, lifting the cap on crown court sitting days in England and Wales. This decisive move aims to directly address the staggering backlog of at least 80,000 criminal cases that has plagued the justice system.
Funding and Judicial Agreement
The agreement, reached in collaboration with Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, guarantees there will be no limit on the number of days crown courts can operate throughout the upcoming financial year. This is supported by a substantial £2.8 billion settlement for courts and tribunals for 2026/27, marking an increase from the previous year's £2.5 billion allocation.
Within this funding package, £287 million is earmarked as capital investment specifically to address the urgent repairs needed for deteriorating court buildings across the country.
Historical Context and Immediate Impact
Caps on court sitting days have been a recurring budgetary tool for the Ministry of Justice, often implemented to manage financial constraints and chronic staff shortages. The Ministry had previously announced plans in October to increase crown court sitting days to 111,250 for the current year. With this latest policy removal, that number is now projected to rise to approximately 113,000 days, representing a significant operational expansion.
Reactions from the Legal Community
The announcement has been met with cautious optimism from key legal bodies. Riel Karmy-Jones KC and Andrew Thomas KC, the chair and vice-chair of the Criminal Bar Association, described the lifting of the cap as "a brave and significant first step." They emphasized that "removing the cap on sitting days is the single most important measure which the government can take to bring down the backlog, and reduce the delays" for all parties involved in the justice process.
While the Law Society acknowledged the funding as a positive step, it cautioned that the package alone is insufficient to fully clear the backlog or comprehensively fix the systemic infrastructure issues.
Warnings and Future Reforms
Fiona Rutherford, chief executive of the pressure group Justice, welcomed the measures but issued a stark warning against using this announcement to justify potential cuts to jury trials. She argued that restricting jury trials would undermine public trust and disproportionately risk miscarriages of justice for marginalized communities.
Lammy indicated that further announcements are imminent, scheduled for Tuesday, focusing on implementing efficiency reforms. These are expected to draw on recommendations from the second part of Sir Brian Leveson's review, including the expanded use of remote hearings to streamline proceedings.
"I have agreed with the judiciary to fund unlimited sitting days in the crown court next year so they can sit at their maximum and so we can turn the tide on the backlog as quickly as possible," Lammy stated. He added, "Investment alone will not be enough to deliver timely justice, which is why it has to be combined with our pragmatic reforms and modernisation."
