£2.785billion three-year deal funds unlimited Crown Court sitting days
The Government has agreed a record £2.785 billion funding settlement for courts and tribunals, committing to remove any cap on Crown Court sitting days in England and Wales next year.
The announcement, made on 24 February 2026 by the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts & Tribunals Service, confirms that every Criminal Crown Court will be funded to operate at maximum capacity during the 2026/27 financial year.
Under the agreement, if a court has the capacity to hear a case, it will proceed. Ministers say this is intended to reduce delays and tackle the outstanding case backlog.
The total settlement of £2.785 billion represents an increase from £2.538 billion in the previous year. It includes £2.498 billion in resource funding and £287 million in capital investment. The capital allocation will fund repairs and digital upgrades across the court estate.
For the first time, the Government and the judiciary have agreed firm funding commitments covering three years, through to 2028/29. Officials say this will provide long-term stability and allow the justice system to plan reforms more effectively.
David Lammy said the Government had inherited a justice system facing significant delays and that the decision to fund unlimited Crown Court sitting days would help turn the tide on the backlog. He stated that investment would be combined with reform and modernisation measures.
The announcement also confirms that magistrates’ courts will be funded to their highest operational capacity. The Immigration and Asylum Chamber will receive funding for up to 26,000 sitting days, an increase of more than 3,000 compared with the previous year. Civil courts will also receive increased investment.
Ministers say the reforms are necessary in light of rising police charging activity and increasing case complexity. According to the Government, 90% of all crime now involves some form of digital evidence, while new technologies have created more complex offences to investigate and prosecute.
The funding settlement is intended to support proposals arising from the first part of Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, including the potential introduction of judge-only trials.
The announcement coincides with a speech by David Lammy at the Microsoft AI Tour in London, where he is expected to outline further digital modernisation across the justice system, including expanded use of artificial intelligence.