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 validation process) within the reporting period.
| Year | Magistrates' courts receipts |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,125,434 |
| 2019 | 1,443,208 |
| 2018 | 1,451,020 |
| 2017 | 1,515,548 |
| 2016 | 1,529,018 |
| 2015 | 1,591,592 |
| 2014 | 1,607,163 |
| 2013 | 1,537,272 |
| 2012 | 1,169,522 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 1,125,434
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.
| Year | Magistrates' courts disposals |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,040,308 |
| 2019 | 1,441,778 |
| 2018 | 1,456,735 |
| 2017 | 1,509,022 |
| 2016 | 1,566,357 |
| 2015 | 1,594,051 |
| 2014 | 1,570,660 |
| 2013 | 1,556,261 |
| 2012 | 1,179,639 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 1,040,308
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.
| Year | Magistrates' courts outstanding |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 384,801 |
| 2019 | 300,229 |
| 2018 | 289,664 |
| 2017 | 297,593 |
| 2016 | 291,025 |
| 2015 | 327,228 |
| 2014 | 326,437 |
| 2013 | 288,946 |
| 2012 | 307,803 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 384,801
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.
| Year | Magistrates' courts total number of trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 57,388 |
| 2019 | 109,396 |
| 2018 | 123,023 |
| 2017 | 136,962 |
| 2016 | 149,423 |
| 2015 | 162,668 |
| 2014 | 158,984 |
| 2013 | 155,087 |
| 2012 | 156,671 |
| 2011 | 166,808 |
| 2010 | 179,794 |
| 2009 | 179,858 |
| 2008 | 183,511 |
| 2007 | 189,830 |
| 2006 | 180,950 |
| 2005 | 182,500 |
| 2004 | 193,608 |
| 2003 | 177,485 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 57,388
Magistrates' courts effective trials
Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Year | Magistrates' courts effective trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 44 % |
| 2019 | 46 % |
| 2018 | 46 % |
| 2017 | 47 % |
| 2016 | 47 % |
| 2015 | 48 % |
| 2014 | 45 % |
| 2013 | 45 % |
| 2012 | 44 % |
| 2011 | 43 % |
| 2010 | 43 % |
| 2009 | 43 % |
| 2008 | 43 % |
| 2007 | 43 % |
| 2006 | 44 % |
| 2005 | 41 % |
| 2004 | 37 % |
| 2003 | 33 % |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 44 %
Magistrates' courts cracked trials
Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Year | Magistrates' courts cracked trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 36 % |
| 2019 | 39 % |
| 2018 | 39 % |
| 2017 | 38 % |
| 2016 | 38 % |
| 2015 | 37 % |
| 2014 | 37 % |
| 2013 | 38 % |
| 2012 | 39 % |
| 2011 | 39 % |
| 2010 | 39 % |
| 2009 | 38 % |
| 2008 | 38 % |
| 2007 | 38 % |
| 2006 | 37 % |
| 2005 | 37 % |
| 2004 | 37 % |
| 2003 | 38 % |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 36 %
Magistrates' courts ineffective trials
Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Year | Magistrates' courts ineffective trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 20 % |
| 2019 | 15 % |
| 2018 | 16 % |
| 2017 | 15 % |
| 2016 | 15 % |
| 2015 | 15 % |
| 2014 | 18 % |
| 2013 | 18 % |
| 2012 | 17 % |
| 2011 | 18 % |
| 2010 | 18 % |
| 2009 | 19 % |
| 2008 | 18 % |
| 2007 | 19 % |
| 2006 | 19 % |
| 2005 | 22 % |
| 2004 | 26 % |
| 2003 | 29 % |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 20 %
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.
| Year | Crown court receipts |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 96,852 |
| 2019 | 104,414 |
| 2018 | 99,842 |
| 2017 | 112,081 |
| 2016 | 114,890 |
| 2015 | 126,754 |
| 2014 | 135,569 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 96,852
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.
| Year | Crown court disposals |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 78,162 |
| 2019 | 99,640 |
| 2018 | 105,772 |
| 2017 | 115,723 |
| 2016 | 123,250 |
| 2015 | 130,805 |
| 2014 | 129,047 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 78,162
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.
| Year | Crown court outstanding |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 57,047 |
| 2019 | 38,291 |
| 2018 | 33,310 |
| 2017 | 39,296 |
| 2016 | 43,005 |
| 2015 | 51,164 |
| 2014 | 55,456 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 57,047
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.
| Year | Crown court total number of trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,610 |
| 2019 | 24,276 |
| 2018 | 29,583 |
| 2017 | 34,579 |
| 2016 | 37,340 |
| 2015 | 39,036 |
| 2014 | 35,971 |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 10,610
Crown courts effective trials
Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Year | Crown courts effective trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 51 % |
| 2019 | 50 % |
| 2018 | 51 % |
| 2017 | 51 % |
| 2016 | 51 % |
| 2015 | 50 % |
| 2014 | 50 % |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 51 %
Crown courts cracked trials
Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Year | Crown courts cracked trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 28 % |
| 2019 | 34 % |
| 2018 | 35 % |
| 2017 | 34 % |
| 2016 | 34 % |
| 2015 | 35 % |
| 2014 | 35 % |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 28 %
Crown courts ineffective trials
Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Year | Crown courts ineffective trials |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 21 % |
| 2019 | 16 % |
| 2018 | 14 % |
| 2017 | 15 % |
| 2016 | 15 % |
| 2015 | 15 % |
| 2014 | 15 % |
Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 21 %