New statistics from the Ministry of Justice show an uptick in personal injury claims and continuing challenges with delays and access to timely justice.
The Ministry of Justice have released their civil justice statistics for April to June 2024. The picture is mixed for those concerned with access to justice. While there have been improvements in some areas, delays and backlogs remain a significant challenge.
Decline in overall claims and cases going to trial
There has been a slight decline in overall county court claims, with total claims down by 1% compared to the same period in 2023.
This drop was largely driven by a 3% reduction in money claims, which continue to make up the vast majority of claims filed. Conversely, non-money claims saw a 9% rise.
Damages claims increased by 5%, driven notably by an 18% rise in personal injury claims when compared with this time last year. In contrast, other damages claims dropped by 16%.
Despite the growth in personal injury cases, the overall decrease in claims brought to trial – down 11% to 12,000 – suggests ongoing challenges within the justice system.
Delays persist in courts
The statistics also reveal continued delays in the court process. While small claims saw a slight improvement, with the average time to trial reduced by two weeks, the time taken for multi- and fast-track claims to reach trial extended to 79.3 weeks (about one and a half years), continuing a concerning upward trend. This delay reflects ongoing pressures on the civil justice system, including the closure of the County Court Money Claims Centre in Salford.
In terms of judgments, the number of default judgments fell by 14%, alongside a significant drop in the issuance of warrants, which were down 32% compared to 2023. Enforcement activity saw a mixed picture, with applications up 5%, but orders issued falling slightly by 2%.
Surge in judicial review applications
The data also highlights a dramatic increase in judicial review applications, which were up 40% from 2023. Of the 850 applications received, 12% were deemed ‘totally without merit,’ reflecting stricter scrutiny of these claims.
For those concerned with access to justice, these statistics underscore the need for further reforms to address systemic delays.
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