Police 'undermined' by growing court backlogs

The police have been left "undermined" by growing court backlogs, West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has claimed.

It comes after it was revealed the West Mercia force area had 1,583 outstanding crown court cases in November 2025, with hearings listed as far ahead as 2029.

John Campion said West Mercia Police was "playing its part by investigating crime", but "without a properly funded and functioning criminal justice system beyond the police, those efforts are being undermined".

Earlier this week, a report by Sir Brian Leveson warned the court system was "on the brink of collapse". Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the government would respond in the coming weeks.

The first stage of the review was commissioned last year, with Sir Brian calling for the right to a jury trial to be scaled back and many intermediate crimes to be dealt with by a judge alone.

His second and final report has recommended 130 efficiency changes, from technical measures to allowing prison vans to use bus lanes to hit court appearance deadlines.

Sir Brian's two reports were commissioned by ministers as part of an attempt to reverse the backlog that had reached record levels before Labour came to power, but have continued to worsen since then.

Discussing West Mercia's situation, Campion said: "Justice delayed is justice denied.

"Too many victims are waiting years for their day in court, prolonging trauma and harming their ability to cope and recover.

"The report makes clear that government funding has not kept pace with rising demand across the criminal justice system with increasing case complexity, court closures, a shrinking legal profession and a deteriorating estate stripping the system of the resilience it needs."

He said it was his view that "efficiency reforms alone" would "not fix this".

"What is needed is sustained long-term investment, structural reform and stronger leadership across the entire criminal justice system," he explained.

"Anything less risks further collapse, greater harm to victims and a continued deterioration in public confidence."

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