The government has announced an expansion of an initiative designed to speed up criminal cases, with selected Crown Courts prioritising domestic abuse, drug and knife crime proceedings as ministers seek to reduce lengthy delays.
In a statement published on 12 October 2026, the Ministry of Justice said the approach, known as Short Trial Courts and previously called Blitz Courts, brings similar cases together for intensive hearing periods. Judges, prosecutors and court staff can then concentrate their resources and experience on a particular type of case.
Which courts are taking part?
According to the ministry, the approach is being deployed at the Old Bailey, Snaresbrook and Croydon Crown Courts in London, as well as court sites in Liverpool, Preston and Nottingham. The announcement describes a nationwide expansion but does not say that every Crown Court is operating the scheme.
The government links the initiative to its decision to remove the cap on Crown Court sitting days, allowing judges to schedule more hearings.
Old Bailey reports progress on emergency-worker assault cases
The Ministry of Justice says two dedicated courtrooms at the Old Bailey operated during the summer to address a group of nearly 500 outstanding cases involving assaults on emergency workers.
It reports that almost half of those cases have now concluded. That figure relates to this particular group of cases; it is not a measure of the proportion of the entire Crown Court backlog cleared.
The ministry says judges have also chosen to accelerate cases involving possession of a bladed article.
Minister says courts must tackle delays
Courts minister Sarah Sackman KC MP said the government was working with the judiciary to reduce delays and direct resources to cases where they could make the greatest difference. The ministry presents the scheme as a way to help victims obtain decisions sooner.
The announcement does not establish how much time the approach will save across the court system or provide an independently evaluated nationwide success rate.
What happens to jury trials?
The expansion coincides with the Courts and Tribunals Bill returning to Parliament. The government says it will amend the bill to remove proposals to limit jury trials, with almost all Crown Court cases continuing to be heard by juries.
Short Trial Courts concern how cases are grouped and scheduled. The announcement does not create a separate criminal court jurisdiction or announce the removal of defendants' existing fair-trial protections.