Recent figures highlight a significant backlog of criminal cases in Greater Manchester's crown courts, with 5,329 cases pending at Manchester Crown Square, Manchester Minshull Street, and Bolton Crown Court.

Minshull Street ranks second in the UK for backlogged cases, recording 2,378 cases, surpassed only by Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, which has 3,442. Additionally, Crown Square has 1,984 cases, while Bolton Crown Court holds 967.

The backlog has nearly doubled in five years, prompting discussions about potentially scrapping jury trials for certain cases. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reported that the total number of criminal cases awaiting resolution in England and Wales had risen to 73,105 by the end of September.

Baroness Newlove, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, stated that the current backlog reflects a “failure of our justice system” that "cannot go on," emphasizing the need for change.

Compared to earlier figures, the caseload has increased by 3% from the previous quarter and 10% from the past year, with almost double the number since the end of 2019. Among these, 14,865 cases involve sexual offences, including 3,291 related to adult rape allegations.

Prosecutors warn that victims now face wait times of two to five years for their cases to come to trial, with court schedules extending into 2027. Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, has branded the delays as “totally unacceptable.”

The backlog includes 5,660 cases that have remained unresolved for over two years, a stark increase from just 592 cases in December 2019. Currently, 16,505 cases have been pending for one year or more, although the MoJ suggests wait times are slowly decreasing from their peak in 2022.

The government is exploring various measures, including the possibility of eliminating jury trials in specific instances, to address the backlog crisis.

Newly appointed Justice Minister Sarah Sackman acknowledged the serious crisis in the crown court system, stating that “if we don’t act now, the caseload could reach six figures.”

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood referred to the considerable backlog as an “unprecedented crisis,” stressing that despite current efforts, the system cannot continue as is. She indicated that abolishing jury trials for some cases might be necessary to alleviate backlogs.

While Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle called the idea of scrapping jury trials “extreme,” Justice Minister Sackman affirmed that jury trials would remain a cornerstone of the British justice system for serious offences, although bold reforms might be essential to manage the crisis.