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

Nottingham Crown Court is testing a system designed to clear the backlog of criminal cases, with judges handling multiple verdicts in rapid succession. On one day, Judge Michael Auty KC sentenced ten individuals, including a man who shared explicit images of a woman he had sex with and later attempted to blackmail her. The process, called a ‘blitz’ hearing, allows courts to process dozens of cases efficiently, addressing delays that have stretched for years.

The first defendant, a man in his early 20s, was found in possession of nearly 200 indecent images of children. He had sent intimate photos of his genitals to a 13-year-old girl. The judge called him a “depraved individual” and imposed a two-year suspended prison sentence, along with 118 hours of unpaid community service. He was also added to the sex offenders’ register for a decade. A woman in the courtroom fought to hide her tears as the ruling was delivered.

“You are 44 years old,” the judge remarked, addressing the second defendant. “These offences are mean, manipulative.”

Following this, the court dealt with a 27-year-old man who had sent a 14-year-old girl explicit photos and solicited her for sexual activity. The case was uncovered by a paedophile-hunting group after he planned to meet the girl outside an Asda store. He received a similar sentence to the first offender. Throughout the session, the judge handled a mix of cases, including drug-related charges, public disorder, and theft, emphasizing the need for speed in the criminal justice process.

The blitz model, used in Nottingham twice monthly, groups similar cases to streamline proceedings. It’s not new—such methods were previously employed during the 2011 summer riots to expedite public disorder trials. Now, the government is scaling it up, allocating £2.7bn for courts this year, up from £2.5bn the prior year. The plan includes expanding blitz hearings to more courts, including London’s Central Criminal Court, or Old Bailey.

The initiative aims to reduce the strain on the system by fast-tracking cases, allowing for quicker resolutions and more effective use of time. However, some argue that certain matters, like minor offences, could be handled at a lower level to ease the burden. As the backlog grows—currently at 80,000 cases and projected to surpass 200,000 by 2035—victims like those awaiting judgment until 2030 are demanding action to shorten wait times.

How blitz courts work

Blitz hearings typically focus on trials but also include sentencing and appeals. In Nottingham, the court processes cases in blocks, with defendants appearing in rapid sequence. This approach ensures that cases with similar outcomes are addressed together, improving efficiency. The system is part of a broader effort to tackle delays, with the government hoping to reduce the backlog by prioritizing high-volume cases in designated courts.

Victims and advocates highlight the urgency of the situation, noting that prolonged waits can impact justice. By accelerating proceedings, blitz courts aim to deliver swifter judgments and better rehabilitate offenders in the community, freeing up prison space for more serious crimes. The model is set to be implemented more widely, reflecting the system’s growing reliance on speed to manage its ever-increasing workload.