Prisons, courts and victim services will benefit from spending review funding
Almost 拢4.4 billion will be invested to increase court capacity, create prison places, and support victims following yesterday鈥檚 spending review.
- 拢4 billion to progress delivery of 18,000 prison places
- 拢337 million will help reduce criminal court backlogs and support victims
- 拢76 million for family courts and tribunals
The money will help build on steps already in place to deal with the unprecedented challenges caused by the pandemic.
Crucially, 拢337 million extra funding will support the government鈥檚 crime agenda - delivering swift and effective justice to convict offenders, support victims, and protect the wider public.
This includes 拢275 million to manage the impact of 20,000 additional police officers and reduce backlogs caused by the pandemic by increasing capacity in courts, particularly the Crown Court. The announcement is an important milestone in efforts to bring down outstanding cases, which have already seen the number of those being resolved in the Crown Court nearly treble since April.
It comes on top of existing spending on courts, including 拢142 million for modernising buildings and improving technology as well as 拢83 million committed in September to make the estate covid-secure, support remote hearings, recruit 1,600 additional staff and create new Nightingale courts 鈥� 16 of which are up and running.
An extra 拢4 billion will be provided over the next four years to make significant progress in delivering 18,000 additional prison places. This will create modern efficient jails, including 4 new prisons in the next 6 years, boosting the government鈥檚 efforts to cut crime.
Maintenance will also be carried out - with 拢315 million to enhance the condition of the existing prison estate and 拢105 million for improvements to courts.
On top of 拢337 million for the criminal justice system, 拢76 million will further increase capacity in the Family Court and Employment Tribunal, giving families, businesses and employees confidence that their cases will continue to be dealt with effectively.
An additional 拢43 million will go towards measures to reduce COVID transmission in courts and prisons.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Robert Buckland QC MP said:
We are seeing positive signs thanks to our efforts to keep the justice system running, including a big increase in the number of jury trials.
This funding will help us speed up justice in our courts and continue to deliver modern prison places that keep criminals off the streets and cut reoffending.