Ten cases a day – how ‘blitz courts’ could tackle the Crown Court backlog

How ‘Blitz Courts’ Aim to Alleviate the Crown Court Backlog

At Nottingham Crown Court, a man stood in the dock with a composed demeanor. He had shared explicit photos of his genitals with a 13-year-old girl and was found in possession of nearly 200 child-indecency images. The judge described him as a “depraved individual” and imposed a two-year suspended sentence. Alongside this, he was mandated to complete 118 hours of unpaid community service and remain on the sex offender registry for a decade. A woman nearby listened intently, attempting to hide her emotional reaction. The hearing concluded in 45 minutes.

Following this, the judge addressed another case involving a man who had sent intimate images of a 14-year-old girl and requested sexual involvement. The defendant, aged 27 at the time, was apprehended by a paedophile-hunting organization after meeting the girl outside an Asda store. His sentence mirrored the previous case. Typically, I attend court to cover a single case. However, this day was unique as Judge Michael Auty KC presided over multiple cases in rapid succession. This marked the beginning of a series of ten cases handled within five hours.

Blitz Hearsings: A Strategy for Efficiency

Nottingham is among the few crown courts implementing “blitz” hearings, where dozens of cases are processed daily to reduce delays. Similar initiatives are underway in London, the North East, and the North West of England. The program is set to expand further, including London’s Old Bailey, as part of a broader effort to address the growing backlog. The goal is to expedite proceedings by fast-tracking cases.

Blitz courts primarily handle trials but also manage sentencing and appeals. While uncommon, a judge overseeing multiple cases in a single day is part of the system’s adaptation. The government hopes to increase this approach to ease the strain on the criminal justice framework. Nottingham conducts these sessions twice monthly, grouping similar cases to streamline decisions. On the day of the event, the judge rendered ten sentences, four related to sexual offenses.

“You are 44 years old. These offenses are mean, manipulative.”

The judge remarked during the sentencing of a man accused of sharing intimate images of a Muslim woman and attempting blackmail. He had threatened to expose her naked photos to her family if she did not continue sleeping with him. The judge awarded a two-year suspended sentence, adding,

“You’ve escaped jail by the skin of your teeth.”

Victims of crimes, some told their cases won’t be resolved until 2030, argue that prolonged waits are intolerable. They advocate for immediate reforms. The backlog in crown courts across England and Wales stands at approximately 80,000 cases, a figure double that before the pandemic. By year’s end, this is projected to surpass 100,000, potentially reaching 200,000 by 2035 without intervention.

From April, the Central Criminal Court will employ two courts for blitz hearings. These will prioritize cases involving assaults on emergency workers, with over 600 such incidents pending. The government has allocated £2.7bn for this financial year to support the initiative, up from £2.5bn the prior year. Supporters emphasize that blitz courts offer benefits: quicker resolutions, earlier plea agreements, and reduced prison overcrowding. This allows prosecutors to assess cases early, leading to some dismissals or lighter charges.