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.

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 1,145,937

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 1,169,301

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 359,261

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 92,818

Data source Criminal court statistics

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Magistrates' courts effective trials

Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 42 %

Data source Criminal court statistics

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Magistrates' courts cracked trials

Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 36 %

Data source Criminal court statistics

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Magistrates' courts ineffective trials

Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 22 %

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 97,993

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 95,507

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 58,818

Data source Criminal court statistics

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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.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 21,805

Data source Criminal court statistics

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Crown courts effective trials

Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 48 %

Data source Criminal court statistics

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Crown courts cracked trials

Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 29 %

Data source Criminal court statistics

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Crown courts ineffective trials

Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.

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Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 23 %

Data source Criminal court statistics