Monday Message 04.08.25
The CBA Snap Survey:
The survey asked whether the implementation of the Leveson recommendations would increase the likelihood of members of the criminal Bar leaving the profession. The result was that 44% indicated that they would be more likely to leave. The majority were our young practitioners. Some 58% of those in their first five years’ of call and 54% of those who are 6-10 years’ call will leave. These are precisely the barristers who will be expected to prosecute and defend jury-less trials. If it is thought that those with 11-15 years’ of experience will cover these cases, 48% of those have said that they will leave. We urge the Government to listen to the many ways that we have suggested which will reduce the backlog now and make real change.
In our conversation with the Lord Chancellor, we discussed that the MOJ is considering the possibility of multi-year funding settlements for the criminal Bar and that the MOJ will look to say more in the Autumn. This funding will be vital to retention and recruitment.
Justice in Numbers:
The MOJ has published figures which it calls “Justice in Numbers.” The figures demonstrate that in 2024 the Criminal Bar, working with the Judiciary, Court Staff, Solicitors, the CPS and all agencies disposed of 113,885 cases in the Crown Court. The last time so many cases were disposed of was in 2017.
In 2023 the disposal rate was 102,022. That is an increase of 11,863 within a year. Of the cases disposed of in 2024, 31% cracked on the day of trial and 25% of trials were ineffective.
A high level of cases (18,790) were committed for sentence to the Crown Court.
Figures for rehabilitation were only provided up to March 2024. Of interest were the figures for offenders in employment post-sentence. For those released from custody, the percentage employed at 6 months post-release was 31%. The percentage employed at 6 months after the imposition of a community order was 46.4%. The prison population remains high at 87,919. Females make up 3,683 prisoners and males make up 84,043. Over 29,000 prisoners are aged 30-39. The next largest group is aged 40-49 years at 18,277. More than 2,000 prisoners are aged 70 and over. The largest number of people in custody are there for offences of violence against the person (22,812), sexual offences (14,437), then drugs (11,739.) Of these prisoners, 23.6% were held in crowded accommodation in the latest figures, which are for 2023-2024. Incidents of self-harm and assaults by one prisoner on another continue to increase. Between April 2023 and March 2024, 85 prisoners took their own lives.
The number of receipts within the Crown Court for cases of rape continues to increase. There were 911 cases in the first quarter of 2025. There were 3,023 in 2024.
The CBA and the Judiciary:
We have been working over the last 12 months to improve our relationship with the judiciary and we are extremely grateful for their willingness to meet with us and drive important changes forward. We are all aware of judicial bullying and the consequences that has on retention, recruitment and our health. It is also right and fair to mention the many members of the Judiciary who make repeated efforts to support the criminal Bar by being polite, respectful, collaborative, kind and supportive. If a member of the Judiciary has demonstrated such positive conduct towards you, do please let us know.
Autumn 2025:
For those able to take time off this holiday season, we wish you happy and healthy times with your loved ones. We appreciate the additional stresses and strains on our parents and carers of trying to balance the requirements of court hours and child-care. We appreciate all that you are doing.
Unless there is any major news, the next message will be on Tuesday, 26th August 2025.
Yours,
Mary Prior KC
Chair, The Criminal Bar Association