https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/tags/crowncourt/Recent content in crowncourt on Birmingham DailyHugo -- gohugo.ioen-usSun, 07 Jun 2026 04:59:00 +0000https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/west-midlands-crown-court-backlog-surges-88-amid-growing-justice-postcode-lottery-crisis/Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:59:00 +0000https://birminghamdaily.co.uk/west-midlands-crown-court-backlog-surges-88-amid-growing-justice-postcode-lottery-crisis/The backlog at the West Midlands Crown Court has escalated dramatically, soaring by 88%, highlighting a deepening crisis in the region’s criminal justice system. This surge has intensified concerns over the so-called “postcode lottery,” where defendants face vastly different wait times depending on their location. The backlog increase means that many criminal cases are experiencing significant delays before they are heard, undermining the principle of timely justice. Defendants in certain areas now wait considerably longer than others, raising questions about fairness and equal access to justice.