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<p>The information requested about Crown Court waiting times for trials where the
defendants entered a not guilty plea in 2010 and 2018 can be found in the attached
excel document.</p><p> </p><p>Last year saw a 12% reduction in Crown Court trial cases
and the allocation of sitting days reflects this. Waiting times for trials in the
Crown Court for 2018 have been the lowest since 2014, despite the challenge of increasingly
complex cases.</p><p> </p><p>Performance, demand and waiting times in the courts are
constantly reviewed to balance sitting days with waiting times, disposals and receipts.
Resources are adjusted when appropriate. Demand has been falling in recent years and
sitting days have been reduced accordingly. The abolition of committal hearings in
2013 transferred the file preparation period from the magistrates’ court to the Crown
Court and so comparisons between pre-2013 data and post-2013 data do not compare like
with like.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to review demand and performance in the
Crown Courts and will ensure they have the resources they require.</p>
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