The latest, mutant strain of the coronavirus is likely to intensify pressure on the criminal justice system. The number of outstanding crown court cases has risen to 53,000; the caseload in the magistrates court is above 400,000. Anonymised examples of delayed cases have been collected by the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA). Criminal solicitors also fear they are working harder for less money because a significant proportion of hearings now are not full trials but pre-trial reviews. There are still fewer than 150 crown court rials each week.

Source: The Guardian January 10, 2021 16:41 UTC