Ten cases a day – how ‘blitz courts’ could tackle the Crown Court backlog
Ten cases a day – how ‘blitz courts’ could tackle the Crown Court backlog
At Nottingham Crown Court, a man sat quietly in the dock. He had shared explicit photos of his genitals with a 13-year-old girl and was found to possess nearly 200 suggestive images of children. The judge, addressing the court, labeled him as a “depraved individual” and imposed a two-year suspended sentence. He also mandated 118 hours of unpaid community service and registered him as a sex offender for a decade. His wife remained in the courtroom, attempting to hold back her emotions. The proceedings lasted just 45 minutes.
Following that, the judge considered a case involving a man who had sent a 14-year-old girl explicit messages and requested sexual favors. The defendant, then 27 years old, was apprehended by a paedophile-hunting organization after setting up a meeting with the girl near an Asda store. His sentence mirrored the previous case. Typically, I attend court to cover individual trials, but this day was distinct. These were the initial cases among ten that Judge Michael Auty KC would handle over the next five hours.
The Blitz Court Initiative
Nottingham is among a select few crown courts adopting “blitz” hearings, designed to process dozens of cases daily. The goal is to alleviate the substantial delays in the judicial system. Similar initiatives have been introduced in London, the North East, and the North West of England. By the end of this year, the scheme will extend to additional courts across England and Wales, including the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey.
The approach focuses on expediting trials, though it also covers sentencing and appeals. It’s uncommon for a judge to manage so many cases in a single session, but the government sees potential in this model to address the growing backlog. In Nottingham, these sessions occur twice monthly. Cases with comparable charges are grouped, allowing the court to allocate time efficiently. On the day of my visit, the judge issued ten sentences—four related to sexual misconduct.
While some cases might have been resolved earlier by magistrates, Judge Auty KC noted that this method offers quicker resolutions and reduces strain on the system. Supporters argue that the speed of these hearings enables faster justice and community-based rehabilitation without overcrowding prisons. The government is allocating £2.7bn in funding this year, a rise from £2.5bn the previous year, to support this initiative.
Backlog and Calls for Change
Currently, around 80,000 cases await trial in crown courts across England and Wales. This number has doubled since pre-pandemic levels, with projections suggesting it could surpass 100,000 by year’s end and reach 200,000 by 2035 if no action is taken. Victims, some told their cases may not be heard until 2030, claim the prolonged wait is intolerable and demand immediate reforms.
As the blitz model expands, the Old Bailey will use two courts to handle over 600 pending cases involving assaults on emergency workers. Back at Nottingham Crown Court, the cases continued. A married father of five was next, charged with distributing intimate images of a Muslim woman he had sex with and attempting to coerce her into further relationships. The court learned he had threatened to release her naked photos to her family unless she agreed to continue sleeping with him. “You are 44 years old,” the judge remarked. “These acts are manipulative and malicious.” He received a two-year suspended sentence, noting: “You’ve barely avoided imprisonment.”
“You are 44 years old. These offences are mean, manipulative.”
“You’ve escaped jail by the skin of your teeth.”
