Work in Progress - Speeding Up Justice Follow-up Review

In 2018, we published a report on avoidable delays in the criminal justice system, highlighting significant delays in Crown Court cases, weaknesses in case management and information sharing, and the need for stronger collaboration across justice organisations. Despite a range of initiatives and reforms since then, including investment through the Speeding Up Justice Programme, delays remain a significant challenge. 

This follow-up review will assess whether the recommendations made in our 2018 report, and subsequently by the Public Accounts Committee, have been effectively implemented and whether they have delivered meaningful improvements in the criminal justice system. The study will also consider whether other actions and reforms since 2018 have resulted in sustained improvements in performance. 

Intended Scope

The review will focus primarily on delays in Crown Court cases and will examine:

• progress made in implementing the recommendations from NIAO's 2018 report and the PAC's 2022 report;
• the current extent of delays and the factors contributing to them;
• changes to legislation, governance arrangements and operational practices since 2018;
• the cost and impact of delays on the justice system;
• collaboration between justice organisations to reduce delays; and
• the effectiveness of current plans and initiatives to improve performance.

We aim to publish our report in early 2027.