Criminal courts
Virtually all criminal court cases in England and Wales start in a magistrates' court. The less serious offences (summary and some triable either-way) are handled entirely in magistrates' courts.
More serious offences (triable either-way or indictable only) are passed via the magistrates' court on to the Crown Court, either for sentencing after the defendant has been found guilty or for a trial with a judge and jury. The Crown Court also receives appeals against decisions of the magistrates' courts.
The magistrates' court is the first tier of criminal courts in England and Wales and is presided over by three 'Justices of the Peace’ (known as lay magistrates) or by a district judge.
The Crown Court is a single entity that sits at various court centres across England and Wales, it predominately deals with serious criminal cases. Unlike the magistrates' court, trials in the Crown Court have a jury to determine the guilt of defendants and a judge which can impose tougher sentences.
See criminal court statistics at MOJ for further information.
Magistrates' courts receipts
A count of the number of cases where the case has been entered on the court administrative system (following a process) within the reporting period.
Jan - Dec 2025
1,499,007
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026 there were 365,357 magistrates' courts receipts.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts disposals
A count of the number of cases only when all the offences have been completed (following a validation process) in the reporting period. Disposals figures in this report may change if the case results are entered after the first collation of the data.
Jan - Dec 2025
1,461,268
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026 there were 357,064 magistrates' courts disposals.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts open caseload
A count of all cases where one or more offence remains incomplete. The data is a snapshot based on open cases on the final day of the reporting period. This is a count of live cases on the system and is not a calculation based on receipts and disposals.
31 Dec 2025
364,923
Update 30 Jun 2026
As of 30 Jun 2026 there were 380,230 open cases in the magistrates' courts.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts total number of trials
A trial in the magistrates' court or Crown Court is a hearing at which the prosecution produces evidence to prove the case against the defendant.
Trials in the magistrates' court are heard by two or three magistrates or by one district judge.
| Period | Magistrates' courts total number of trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 177,485 |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 193,608 |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 182,500 |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 180,950 |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 189,830 |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 183,511 |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 179,858 |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 179,794 |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 166,808 |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 156,671 |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 155,087 |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 158,984 |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 162,668 |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 149,423 |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 136,962 |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 123,023 |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 109,396 |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 57,600 |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 93,322 |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 88,804 |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 82,922 |
| Jan - Dec 2024 | 84,190 |
| Jan - Dec 2025 | 92,804 |
Jan - Dec 2025
92,804
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026 there were a total of 24,424 magistrates' courts trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts effective trials
Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Magistrates' courts effective trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 33% |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 41% |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 43% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 45% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 45% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 48% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 47% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 47% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 46% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 44% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 42% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 40% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 41% |
| Jan - Dec 2024 | 41% |
| Jan - Dec 2025 | 39% |
Jan - Dec 2025
39%
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026, 40% of the total magistrates' courts trials were effective trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts cracked trials
Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Magistrates' courts cracked trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 39% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 36% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 36% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 38% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2024 | 37% |
| Jan - Dec 2025 | 39% |
Jan - Dec 2025
39%
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026, 40% of the total magistrates' courts trials were cracked trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Magistrates' courts ineffective trials
Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.
| Period | Magistrates' courts ineffective trials |
|---|---|
| Jan - Dec 2003 | 29% |
| Jan - Dec 2004 | 26% |
| Jan - Dec 2005 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2006 | 19% |
| Jan - Dec 2007 | 19% |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | 19% |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2011 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2012 | 17% |
| Jan - Dec 2013 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2014 | 18% |
| Jan - Dec 2015 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2016 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2017 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2018 | 16% |
| Jan - Dec 2019 | 15% |
| Jan - Dec 2020 | 20% |
| Jan - Dec 2021 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2022 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2023 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2024 | 22% |
| Jan - Dec 2025 | 22% |
Jan - Dec 2025
22%
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026, 20% of the total magistrates' courts trials were ineffective trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court receipts
A count of the number of cases where the case has been entered on the court administrative system (following a validation process) within the reporting period.
Jan - Dec 2025
120,693
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026 there were 28,234 Crown Court receipts.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court disposals
A count of the number of cases where all the offences on the case have been completed (following a validation process) in the reporting period. Disposals figures in this report may change if the case results are entered after the first collation of the data.
Jan - Dec 2025
114,490
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026 there were 27,837 Crown Court disposals.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court open caseload
A count of all cases where one or more offence remains incomplete. The data is a snapshot based on open cases on the final day of the reporting period. This is a count of live cases on the system and is not a calculation based on receipts and disposals.
31 Dec 2025
80,462
Update 30 Jun 2026
As of 30 Jun 2026 there were 80,829 open cases in the Crown Court.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court total number of trials
A trial in the magistrates' court or Crown Court is a hearing at which the prosecution produces evidence to prove the case against the defendant.
Trials in the Crown Court are typically heard before a judge and jury.
Jan - Dec 2025
30,101
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026 there were a total of 7,766 Crown Court trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court effective trials
Effective trials as a percentage of total trials.
Jan - Dec 2025
44%
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026, 44% of the total Crown Court trials were effective trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court cracked trials
Cracked trials as a percentage of total trials.
Jan - Dec 2025
31%
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026, 31% of the total Crown Court trials were cracked trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.
Crown Court ineffective trials
Ineffective trials as a percentage of total trials.
Jan - Dec 2025
25%
Update 30 Jun 2026
In the 3 months to 30 Jun 2026, 25% of the total Crown Court trials were ineffective trials.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Criminal court statistics quarterly publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 September 2026. Next publication: 10 December 2026 9:30am.