Criminal courts
Virtually all criminal court cases in England and Wales start in a magistrates' court. The less serious offences (summary and some triable either-way) are handled entirely in magistrates' courts.
More serious offences (triable either-way or indictable only) are passed via the magistrates' court on to the Crown Court, either for sentencing after the defendant has been found guilty or for a trial with a judge and jury. The Crown Court also receives appeals against decisions of the magistrates' courts.
The magistrates' court is the first tier of criminal courts in England and Wales and is presided over by three ‘Justices of the Peace’ (known as lay magistrates) or by a district judge.
The Crown Court is a single entity that sits at various court centres across England and Wales, it predominately deals with serious criminal cases. Unlike the magistrates' court, trials in the Crown Court have a jury to determine the guilt of defendants and a judge which can impose tougher sentences.
See criminal court statistics at MOJ for further information.
Magistrates' courts receipts
A count of the number of cases where the case has been entered on the court administrative system (following a process) within the reporting period.
| Period | Magistrates' courts receipts |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 1,169,522 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 1,537,272 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 1,607,163 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 1,591,592 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 1,529,018 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 1,515,548 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 1,451,020 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 1,443,215 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 1,125,546 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 1,150,520 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 1,252,145 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 1,365,934 |
Jan - Dec 2023
1,365,934
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts disposals
A count of the number of cases only when all the offences have been completed (following a validation process) in the reporting period. Disposals figures in this report may change if the case results are entered after the first collation of the data.
| Period | Magistrates' courts disposals |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 1,179,639 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 1,556,261 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 1,570,660 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 1,594,051 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 1,566,357 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 1,509,022 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 1,456,735 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 1,441,903 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 1,041,013 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 1,174,297 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 1,266,305 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 1,338,015 |
Jan - Dec 2023
1,338,015
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts outstanding
A count of all cases where one or more offence remains incomplete. The data is a snapshot based on outstanding cases on the final day of the reporting period. This is a count of live cases on the system and is not a calculation based on receipts and disposals.
31 Dec 2023
370,731
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts total number of trials
A trial in the magistrates' court or Crown Court is a hearing at which the prosecution produces evidence to prove the case against the defendant.
Trials in the magistrates' court are heard by two or three magistrates or by one district judge.
| Period | Magistrates' courts total number of trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 177,485 |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 193,608 |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 182,500 |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 180,950 |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 189,830 |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 183,511 |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 179,858 |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 179,794 |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 166,808 |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 156,671 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 155,087 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 158,984 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 162,668 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 149,423 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 136,962 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 123,023 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 109,396 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 57,600 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 93,322 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 88,804 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 82,877 |
Jan - Dec 2023
82,877
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts effective trials
Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Magistrates' courts effective trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 33% |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 41% |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 45% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 45% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 48% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 47% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 47% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 42% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 40% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 41% |
Jan - Dec 2023
41%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts cracked trials
Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Magistrates' courts cracked trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 36% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 36% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 37% |
Jan - Dec 2023
37%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts ineffective trials
Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Magistrates' courts ineffective trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 29% |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 26% |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 19% |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 19% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 19% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 17% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 16% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 20% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 22% |
Jan - Dec 2023
22%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown court receipts
A count of the number of cases where the case has been entered on the court administrative system (following a validation process) within the reporting period.
Jan - Dec 2023
105,464
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown court disposals
A count of the number of cases only when all the offences have been completed (following a validation process) in the reporting period. Disposals figures in this report may change if the case results are entered after the first collation of the data.
Jan - Dec 2023
99,304
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown court outstanding
A count of all cases where one or more offence remains incomplete. The data is a snapshot based on outstanding cases on the final day of the reporting period. This is a count of live cases on the system and is not a calculation based on receipts and disposals. Transferred cases may be double counted for a period while they show in both sending and receiving courts; offences subsequently entered in error may change the categorisation of the case.
31 Dec 2023
67,573
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown court total number of trials
A trial in the magistrates' court or Crown Court is a hearing at which the prosecution produces evidence to prove the case against the defendant.
Trials in the Crown Court are typically heard before a judge and jury.
| Period | Crown court total number of trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 37,285 |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 35,985 |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 39,262 |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 43,259 |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 41,703 |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 38,432 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 33,669 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 35,971 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 39,035 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 37,339 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 34,579 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 29,583 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 24,276 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 10,652 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 21,903 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 26,301 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 28,992 |
Jan - Dec 2023
28,992
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown courts effective trials
Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Crown courts effective trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 47% |
| Jan - Dec 20 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 49% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 51% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 50% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 50% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 51% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 51% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 51% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 50% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 50% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 48% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 41% |
Jan - Dec 2023
41%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown courts cracked trials
Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Crown courts cracked trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 42% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 41% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 42% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 40% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 35% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 35% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 35% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 34% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 34% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 35% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 34% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 28% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 29% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 26% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 31% |
Jan - Dec 2023
31%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.
Crown courts ineffective trials
Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Crown courts ineffective trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 12% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 12% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 13% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 14% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 14% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 14% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 14% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 14% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 16% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 21% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 23% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 27% |
Jan - Dec 2023
27%
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 28 March 2024. Next publication: 20 June 2024 9:30am.