Commons committee brands centralised courts a disaster, citing delays, decay and digital chaos
The House of Commons Justice Committee has launched a damning attack on the state of England and Wales’ county court system, branding it “dysfunctional,” plagued by “debilitating delays,” and suffering from the fallout of a “failed attempt at digital reform.” The committee is now calling for an urgent, comprehensive review to overhaul what it describes as the “Cinderella service” of the UK’s justice infrastructure.
In a scathing 67-page report published today, MPs outlined the devastating consequences of the centralisation of civil court services since the 2013 Crime and Courts Act. They argue the reorganisation has left the public facing postcode justice, communication breakdowns, and a backlog so severe that claims now take well over a year to reach court in some regions.
The report details how civil justice, which touches more lives and small businesses than any other part of the system, has been neglected despite current reform efforts elsewhere in the justice sector. Committee chair Andy Slaughter MP did not mince words: “County courts are the frontline for over a million claims each year. They’ve been left to rot — it’s a slow-moving crisis.”
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One of the committee’s most stinging criticisms was aimed at the £1 billion court reform programme, which MPs said was “over-ambitious and under-delivered.” Despite being pitched as a digital revolution, the system still relies heavily on paper — burning through over 76,000 reams in 2024–25 alone at a cost of £378,000.
This analogue dependence contributes directly to the delays, with the average civil case in the southeast taking a staggering 423 days. The committee highlighted the closure of Barnet Civil and Family Courts Centre — shut since November 2024 for urgent renovations — as a vivid symbol of broader decline. Other sites were found to be in such poor repair that asbestos and rat infestations have been reported.
“The court estate is crumbling,” the report stated. “Chronic underinvestment has not only worsened delays but also morale among staff and judges.”
Delays, Staffing Crisis, and Communication Failures
In addition to decaying buildings, the report found severe staffing shortages and recruitment struggles. Judicial capacity is “in crisis,” with the committee calling for a review into why so many are leaving the service and how to retain those who remain.
The committee was equally critical of how hard it is to even communicate with the courts. “The current methods of contacting a county court do not work,” the report said bluntly, citing centralisation as a major cause. It urged the integration of the Northampton-based Civil National Business Centre with local court systems to ensure better responsiveness.
Legal Community in Agreement
The report received strong backing from legal professionals. Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “County courts provide a vital public service for communities and businesses of all sizes. But right now, the wheels of justice are turning too slowly. Thousands of people are trapped in legal limbo.”
Over half of solicitors surveyed by the Society said they did not believe the new online systems improved access to justice — most said delays had worsened.
Atkinson demanded urgent investment in both infrastructure and legal aid. “If the government properly funded our courts and those who work in them, thousands of people would be freed from the backlog. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
A Call for Action
The committee recommends a full-scale review be launched by Spring 2026, with a mission to return case handling times to pre-2015 levels before the end of the current Parliament. “It is not tenable to continue without fundamental reform,” said Slaughter.
With mounting public frustration and the legal profession united in concern, the pressure is now on the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts & Tribunals Service to act — before the entire civil justice system collapses under the weight of its own dysfunction.