BBK Manifesto 2025: Demand timely justice for victims and families

Backlogs in criminal, civil and coroners’ courts mean cases that should be resolved within months are dragging on for years. Victims, bereaved families and claimants are left waiting in limbo, there are risks of evidence being lost, and confidence in the justice system is being tested to breaking point.

BBK is calling for urgent investment in courts, staff and processes to tackle the backlog and modernise our inefficient justice system.

Delays in criminal courts

The backlog in crown courts climbed to a record 76,957 cases by March 2025. Many trials are now being scheduled years ahead. Outstanding cases in magistrates’ courts remained high at 310,304, while trial timeliness remains well above pre-pandemic levels.

The median duration for Crown Court cases is still around 180 days from charge to completion, far slower than before 2020. The Law Society has warned that sustained underfunding and lack of capacity are leaving victims in limbo and undermining justice.

Delays in civil courts

In the county court, small claims now take an average of 49.8 weeks to reach trial. More complex multi-track cases take 74.7 weeks, well above the range in 2009-2019.

The Justice Committee’s Work of the County Court report warns that chronic underfunding, failed digital reforms and decaying court buildings have made timely justice nearly impossible. It calls for a sustainable recovery plan backed by increased judicial and administrative capacity.

Delays in coroners’ courts

According to the latest coroners’ statistics, the average inquest now takes 31.2 weeks to conclude. Around 18% take more than a year, and in some areas the average is more than 60 weeks. In 2024, 713 Prevention of Future Deaths reports were issued – a 25% increase on the previous year – highlighting serious risks that require swift judicial attention. Holdups to inquests cause delays in these reports being issued, which could be putting others at risk in the meantime.

What these delays mean for victims

For victims of crime, civil wrongs or sudden bereavement, every extra week of waiting is another week of uncertainty and strain. Delays can make it harder to move forward, prolong the emotional and psychological toll, and increase the risk of disengagement from the process entirely. Witnesses may lose confidence or become unwilling to participate, and vital evidence can fade over time.

Inquests that take years to conclude deny families the closure they need, while delayed criminal cases can prevent victims from accessing compensation or protective measures. These delays also put added pressure on support services, which must help people cope for far longer than they should have to. The justice process should provide resolution and protection, but for too many it has become an endurance test.

What must happen now

If the justice system is to retain public confidence, these backlogs must be tackled as a matter of urgency. That means investing in court buildings and staff, modernising systems so they work reliably, and focusing resources where delays are the longest and most damaging. Every part of the system, criminal, civil and coronial, needs clear targets for reducing waiting times and regular public reporting on progress. The Government must commit to making timely justice a priority, ensuring that cases are heard promptly, evidence is preserved, and families are not left in limbo for years.

The bottom line

Justice delayed is justice denied. Record backlogs in the crown court, slow progress in civil trials and long waits for inquests are not inevitable – they are the result of years of underinvestment and failed reforms. Without immediate action, more victims, families and claimants will be left without timely justice.

This blog is part of our 2025/26 Manifesto for Injured People. At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we support injured people not only by winning their cases but by driving change. Guided by our clients’ experiences and partnerships with charities across the UK, we are raising awareness of the change we need to see to better support injured people. We will continue working with politicians from all parties to ensure injured people’s needs are not overlooked in Westminster or beyond. You can read our full manifesto here.