At least 15 crown court trials, some involving offences against children, have been delayed until 2023 as court officials fight a losing battle with a growing backlog of cases.
Specialist barristers fear that criminals are avoiding justice and victims are dropping cases as trials are delayed for more than two years in an underfunded system struggling to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Fears are especially acute regarding allegations of child abuse with the memories of young witnesses likely to fade the longer trials are delayed.
Ministry of Justice officials have acknowledged that 15 cases involving serious criminal charges will have to wait at least two years to come before a jury.
Criminal law specialists have told The Times that the number of
