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<p>The information requested about the waiting times for a trial where the defendant
has entered a not guilty plea for an assault charge in 2010 and 2018 can be found
in the attached Excel document.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the small number of defendants
pleading not guilty to these offences at individual Crown Courts, we have not supplied
the average waiting times for courts where fewer than five defendants pleaded not
guilty. Basing an average on such small numbers can skew the mean and result in the
figures being unrepresentative.</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 resource they require.</p>
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