Ministry of Justice UK

Court delays are denying victims justice. Nearly 80,000 crown court cases waiting to be heard. We've committed record investment, including a record number of court sitting days, £150m to make our courts fit for purpose, around £92m more a year for criminal legal aid. But investment alone cannot solve this crisis. Without bold reform, the Crown Court backlog will reach 100,000 outstanding cases by 2028. Only radical court reform can deliver justice for victims more swiftly.

Warning: this post contains discussion about suicide and child abuse. Court delays can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims. Court reform is needed now so nobody else is left waiting for justice. That's why the government is reviewing Sir Brian Leveson’s Criminal Court reform recommendations to improve timelines and ensure swift access to justice for victims. Minister for Courts, Sarah Sackman KC MP, spoke to child sexual abuse survivor Daniel* to hear about the profound impact court delays had on his life.

Currently, care leavers are ten times more likely to end up in prison. Children in care often face significant early trauma, instability and abuse, leaving them more vulnerable to exploitation and crime. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: "I've seen firsthand how children in care too often bear the brunt of other people's failures to protect them. Strengthening the Protocol will mean these children are treated as children, rather than criminals." The Deputy Prime Minister spoke to Tassie, National Lived Experience Lead at HMPPS, about why there is a disproportionate number of care leavers in the criminal justice system and how reviewing the 'National Protocol' guidelines will reduce this. 🎥 Watch their conversation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eHsJPWkK

Ireland is fully committed to ending gender based-violence. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland is proud to support Ukrainian officials in a joint lesson-sharing visit to the UK and Ireland on justice systems’ approaches to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Earlier this week, the Embassy was delighted to welcome delegation alongside colleagues from the Ministry of Justice UK and Embassy of Ukraine in the UK. Not only does this cooperation support Ukraine in its journey toward EU membership, it exemplifies the cooperation envisaged in the Ireland-UK 2030 work programme launched by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister in March 2025 - working together to address global challenges and collaborating on the rule of law and its promotion overseas. British Embassy Dublin Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

The UK’s world-leading legal services sector is driving growth, attracting investment and contributing £42.6 billion to the economy in 2024. Last week, Minister Sarah Sackman KC MP joined HSBC for a roundtable on The benefits of an open and competitive legal economy: Lessons from and for the UK – an independent report by Hook Tangaza that demonstrates how an open legal market strengthens the UK’s position as a trusted place to do business. As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the Ministry of Justice is investing in initiatives like LawtechUK and the GREAT campaign, promoting the UK’s world-class legal expertise and its vital role in the global economy. Link to report: https://lnkd.in/e2uAUHNd

A Budget that focuses on the priorities of the British people. Cutting waiting lists, cutting our debt and borrowing, and cutting the cost of living. Click below to read the Budget in full. https://lnkd.in/e3QASQAq

Katie spent 10 years trying to get justice for her ex-partner's violent and abusive behaviour. In October 2024, a decade after they met and six years after Katie reported the abuse, her ex-partner was found guilty of three charges of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) as well as Coercive and Controlling Behaviour. The impact of court delays is devasting for domestic abuse survivors who live with uncertainty and fear until they get their day in court. This is why we are looking at Sir Brian Leveson's once-in-a-generation reforms to tackle delays and deliver swifter justice for victims. 🔗Watch Katie’s Full Story via this link: https://bit.ly/3XQ060s

In England and Wales, there are a record number of criminal cases waiting to be heard - over 78,000. That's why we commissioned Sir Brian Leveson to carry out a landmark independent review on how we can tackle this backlog, published in the summer. His recommendations included judge-only trials for serious and complex fraud cases. We are currently considering his report and seeing what lessons we can learn from other countries. Recently Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman, visited Canada, where some trials are heard without a judge. Learn more 👇