Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission have remained pending and incomplete in each of the previous five calendar years, respectively.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 1 September 2024, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) had 1,088 cases open, of those, 921 were under review (including triage), 167 were waiting to be allocated to a case review manager.
The table below provides the data for 2024 and the previous five calendar years:
Year | Applications Closed | Referrals |
2019 | 1,539 | 22 |
2020 | 1,063 | 76 |
2021 | 1,216 | 21 |
2022 | 1,174 | 33 |
2023 | 1,487 | 20 |
1 January 2024 to 1 September 2024 | 969 | 19 |
The number of open cases as of 31 December of each year is below:
Year | Open cases as of 31 December |
2019 | 700 (530 under review, 170 waiting) |
2020 | 725 (600 under review, 125 waiting) |
2021 | 755 (646 under review, 109 waiting) |
2022 | 890 (763 under review, 127 waiting) |
2023 | 1,010 (855 under review, 155 waiting) |
The number of cases completed by the CCRC in each financial year is reported in their Annual Reports, which can be found on their website.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been concluded and reported on in (1) 2024 and (2) each of the previous five calendar years.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 1 September 2024, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) had 1,088 cases open, of those, 921 were under review (including triage), 167 were waiting to be allocated to a case review manager.
The table below provides the data for 2024 and the previous five calendar years:
Year | Applications Closed | Referrals |
2019 | 1,539 | 22 |
2020 | 1,063 | 76 |
2021 | 1,216 | 21 |
2022 | 1,174 | 33 |
2023 | 1,487 | 20 |
1 January 2024 to 1 September 2024 | 969 | 19 |
The number of open cases as of 31 December of each year is below:
Year | Open cases as of 31 December |
2019 | 700 (530 under review, 170 waiting) |
2020 | 725 (600 under review, 125 waiting) |
2021 | 755 (646 under review, 109 waiting) |
2022 | 890 (763 under review, 127 waiting) |
2023 | 1,010 (855 under review, 155 waiting) |
The number of cases completed by the CCRC in each financial year is reported in their Annual Reports, which can be found on their website.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission were outstanding on 1 September 2024.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 1 September 2024, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) had 1,088 cases open, of those, 921 were under review (including triage), 167 were waiting to be allocated to a case review manager.
The table below provides the data for 2024 and the previous five calendar years:
Year | Applications Closed | Referrals |
2019 | 1,539 | 22 |
2020 | 1,063 | 76 |
2021 | 1,216 | 21 |
2022 | 1,174 | 33 |
2023 | 1,487 | 20 |
1 January 2024 to 1 September 2024 | 969 | 19 |
The number of open cases as of 31 December of each year is below:
Year | Open cases as of 31 December |
2019 | 700 (530 under review, 170 waiting) |
2020 | 725 (600 under review, 125 waiting) |
2021 | 755 (646 under review, 109 waiting) |
2022 | 890 (763 under review, 127 waiting) |
2023 | 1,010 (855 under review, 155 waiting) |
The number of cases completed by the CCRC in each financial year is reported in their Annual Reports, which can be found on their website.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government in each of the last five years (1) how many applications have been made to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, (2) in how many cases a review has been completed and a decision been made and, (3) what is the average length of time that the Commission has taken to examine and complete a review.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Information on the number of cases received and completed, and the average duration of a review, is available on the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s (CCRC) website and in their annual report. The table below provides data for the last five complete business years:
| Applications Received | Cases Completed | Average Duration of a Review (from allocation to initial decision) |
2019-20 | 1334 | 1453 | 31.7 weeks |
2020-21 | 1142 | 1109 | 35.1 weeks |
2021-22 | 1198 | 1183 | 34.4 weeks |
2022-23 | 1424 | 1275 | 38.7 weeks |
2023-24 | 1629 | 1441 | 35.1 weeks |
The average number of Case Review Managers over the past five years is as follows:
Year ending 31 March | Case Review Manager Average Headcount |
2019 – 2020 | 30 |
2020 – 2021 | 30 |
2021 – 2022 | 29 |
2022 – 2023 | 29 |
2023 - 2024 | 31 |
Section three of the CCRC’s published Case Review Process policy (CW-POL-04-Case-Review-Process-v3.0.pdf (cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com)) outlines that cases are generally allocated in date order of receipt. However, there are several exceptional factors which determine the degree of priority once a case is under review. These assessments are fluid and relative to the needs of other cases. There are several factors for a case to be given higher priority, these include old age (75 years or older) and/or ill health, supported by medical evidence, where there is concern that the applicant may die before the case is dealt with. In addition, evidence that the applicant’s serious ill health (or that of any close family member of the applicant) is directly and significantly aggravated by any delay will also result in the case being given higher priority. The full list of factors for a case to be given a higher priority can be found in the Case Review Process policy.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what procedure, if any, exists within the Criminal Cases Review Commission for ensuring priority is given to those cases where an applicant has a limited life expectancy, due to age or infirmity.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Information on the number of cases received and completed, and the average duration of a review, is available on the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s (CCRC) website and in their annual report. The table below provides data for the last five complete business years:
| Applications Received | Cases Completed | Average Duration of a Review (from allocation to initial decision) |
2019-20 | 1334 | 1453 | 31.7 weeks |
2020-21 | 1142 | 1109 | 35.1 weeks |
2021-22 | 1198 | 1183 | 34.4 weeks |
2022-23 | 1424 | 1275 | 38.7 weeks |
2023-24 | 1629 | 1441 | 35.1 weeks |
The average number of Case Review Managers over the past five years is as follows:
Year ending 31 March | Case Review Manager Average Headcount |
2019 – 2020 | 30 |
2020 – 2021 | 30 |
2021 – 2022 | 29 |
2022 – 2023 | 29 |
2023 - 2024 | 31 |
Section three of the CCRC’s published Case Review Process policy (CW-POL-04-Case-Review-Process-v3.0.pdf (cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com)) outlines that cases are generally allocated in date order of receipt. However, there are several exceptional factors which determine the degree of priority once a case is under review. These assessments are fluid and relative to the needs of other cases. There are several factors for a case to be given higher priority, these include old age (75 years or older) and/or ill health, supported by medical evidence, where there is concern that the applicant may die before the case is dealt with. In addition, evidence that the applicant’s serious ill health (or that of any close family member of the applicant) is directly and significantly aggravated by any delay will also result in the case being given higher priority. The full list of factors for a case to be given a higher priority can be found in the Case Review Process policy.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many case review managers have been employed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission during each of the past five years.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
Information on the number of cases received and completed, and the average duration of a review, is available on the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s (CCRC) website and in their annual report. The table below provides data for the last five complete business years:
| Applications Received | Cases Completed | Average Duration of a Review (from allocation to initial decision) |
2019-20 | 1334 | 1453 | 31.7 weeks |
2020-21 | 1142 | 1109 | 35.1 weeks |
2021-22 | 1198 | 1183 | 34.4 weeks |
2022-23 | 1424 | 1275 | 38.7 weeks |
2023-24 | 1629 | 1441 | 35.1 weeks |
The average number of Case Review Managers over the past five years is as follows:
Year ending 31 March | Case Review Manager Average Headcount |
2019 – 2020 | 30 |
2020 – 2021 | 30 |
2021 – 2022 | 29 |
2022 – 2023 | 29 |
2023 - 2024 | 31 |
Section three of the CCRC’s published Case Review Process policy (CW-POL-04-Case-Review-Process-v3.0.pdf (cloud-platform-e218f50a4812967ba1215eaecede923f.s3.amazonaws.com)) outlines that cases are generally allocated in date order of receipt. However, there are several exceptional factors which determine the degree of priority once a case is under review. These assessments are fluid and relative to the needs of other cases. There are several factors for a case to be given higher priority, these include old age (75 years or older) and/or ill health, supported by medical evidence, where there is concern that the applicant may die before the case is dealt with. In addition, evidence that the applicant’s serious ill health (or that of any close family member of the applicant) is directly and significantly aggravated by any delay will also result in the case being given higher priority. The full list of factors for a case to be given a higher priority can be found in the Case Review Process policy.