1. Key Findings

1.1 About this bulletin

This bulletin presents data on the average (measured as the median) time taken for criminal cases in the Crown and magistrates’ courts in Northern Ireland for the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. It measures the time from when the offence was reported to, or detected by, the police.

The figures reflect the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the justice system, as well as the effects of recovery measures aimed at reducing the backlog of cases caused during that period.

The average is reported as the median number of days, which is the number of days at which 50% of cases have been completed.

Diagram of main points in 2023-24 (information is provided in main text)

1.2 Overall

• Prior to the pandemic, the time taken to complete court cases was generally improving. The pandemic however, disrupted court operations, particularly during 2020-21. As a result, for a large part of that year, many cases were delayed, creating a backlog that had to be cleared in subsequent years, particularly in Crown Court.

• In 2024-25, the average time taken to complete a case across all courts was 189 days, a day less than the previous year (190 days) and faster than during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21 (193 days).

1.3 Crown Court

• In 2024-25, charge cases at Crown Court took an average of 542 days to complete, 1.6% (9 days) faster than the previous year (551 days).

• Summons cases at Crown Court took an average of 1,211 days to complete, 1.0% (12 days) longer than in 2023-24 (1,199 days).

1.4 Adult Magistrates’ Courts

• In 2024-25, charge cases at adult magistrates’ courts, took an average of 92 days to complete, 3.2% faster than the previous year (95 days).

• Summons cases at adult magistrates’ courts, took an average of 223 days, 3.0% faster than in 2023-24 (230 days).

1.5 Youth Magistrates’ Courts

• In 2024-25, the average time taken for a charge case to complete at youth magistrates’ courts, was 158 days, 6.5% faster than in 2023-24 (169 days).

• For summons cases dealt with at youth magistrates’ courts, the average time was 290 days, a day faster than in 2023-24 (291 days).

1.6 Processing Times by Offence Category

• In 2024-25, it took an average of 152 days to complete cases involving motoring offences. The comparative figure for sexual offences was 630 days.

2. Introduction

2.1 About this bulletin

The efficiency of the criminal justice system is important for building trust among victims, witnesses, their families, and communities. Resolving cases quickly also helps offenders understand the consequences of their actions. Speeding up justice therefore remains a priority for the Department of Justice(DoJ).

The aim of this report is to show how key ‘speeding up justice’ initiatives, put in place through law reform and improvements in procedures, have impacted how long cases take. It focuses on the time from when a crime is reported or discovered by police to when the case is completed in court.

The report follows official statistical standards and includes data on how long criminal cases took in Northern Ireland’s Crown and magistrates’ courts (for both adults and youth) between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. These two courts have separate remits and hear particular types of cases. Generally speaking, Crown Courts handle more serious and complex cases, which usually take longer than those in magistrates’ courts.

As well as breaking down the analysis by court type (Crown Court, adult magistrates’ or youth magistrates’ courts), the report also includes information broken down by case type (charge or summons case).

Details of data coverage, quality and methodology are provided in Appendix 1. Data in all tables and charts in the report, along with supplementary data, are available on the DoJ website at Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

The next update, covering the 12 months to 31 March 2026, will be published in August 2026. A full schedule of future publications is available on the DoJ website.

3. Cases

3.1 Cases included

Details of cases included in the calculations are outlined in Appendix 1. In summary, they include cases that were–

• Prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI),

• Resolved in court (not settled out of court), and

• Where all the necessary information was available.

Cases involving a breach of a previous court order are not included.

3.2 Overall

In 2024-25, the number of overall cases completed (which were included in the dataset) was 25,427, a decrease of 4.1% from the total in 2023-24 (26,522). While down on the year before, the number remains high, compared to recent years, and reflects the continued impact of measures introduced to assist on recovery of backlogs from 2020-21, when case completions were affected by Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions.

3.3 Crown Court

At Crown Court, there were 1,461 cases completed, a 5.8% increase on the 2023-24 figure of 1,381.

Figure 1a: Number of included Crown Court cases

3.4 Adult Magistrates

The number of charge cases completed (7,952) at adult magistrates’ courts was 6.8% lower than the previous year (8,529); the number of summons cases completed (15,252) fell by 3.4% (15,783). Both of these respective totals in 2024-25 were still high, in terms of recent years.

Figure 1b: Number of included Adult Magistrates’ Courts cases

3.5 Youth Magistrates

At 203, the number of charge cases at youth magistrates’ courts was 9.4% lower than the same figure in 2023-24 (224) and the lowest total recorded for this type of case in the last five years. The number of summons cases dealt with at youth magistrates’ courts (559) decreased by 7.6% compared to the previous year (605 in 2023-24). This most recent total is the second lowest in the last five years for this type of case (Figures 1a, 1b and 1c, Tables 1 – 7 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

Figure 1c: Number of included Youth Magistrates’ Courts cases

4. Time Taken

4.1 All Cases

Some, complex cases take a long time to complete and, because of this, it is useful to show not just an average processing time, but the time taken to process the bulk of cases. In this bulletin, the length of time in which 80% and 90% of cases are completed is also reported.

In 2024-25, it took an average (median) of 189 days for a case dealt with at court to be completed after the offence was reported. This is slightly faster than in 2023-24 (190 days) and the quickest time recorded since 2019-20.

It took 408 days for 80% of the cases to be completed in 2024-25, an increase of 1.5% compared to 402 days in 2023-24. For 90% of cases, it took 644 days, slightly higher than the 640 days recorded the previous year (Figure 2, Table 1 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

Figure 2: Time taken for all cases from date incident reported to disposal at court

4.2 Crown Court

In 2024-25, the median time taken for a charge case to be dealt with at Crown Court was 542 days, 1.6% faster than in 2023-24 (551 days). It took 805 days for 80% of cases to be completed, a 4.5% improvement from 2023- 24 (843 days). For 90% of cases, it took 987 days, 13.0% faster than in 2023-24 (1,135 days) (Figure 3, Table 2 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

Of all case types, summons cases at Crown Court have taken the longest time to complete in each of the last five years. In 2024-25, the median time was 1,211 days. This was 1.0% longer than the previous year (1,199 days) and the highest in the past five years. This upward trajectory is likely to be, at least in part, due to the recent Criminal Bar Association action. It took 2,098 days for 80% of cases to be completed, an increase of 22.0% from 2023-24 (1,720 days) and the longest time for this type of case in the past five years. For 90% of cases, it took 3,279 days, 57.4% longer than in 2023-24 (2,083 days) and noticeably the longest time in the past five years (Figure 4, Table 3 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

Figure 3: Time taken for charge cases dealt with at Crown Court, from date incident reported to disposal at court

Figure 4: Time taken for summons cases dealt with at Crown Court from date incident reported to disposal at court

4.3 Adult Magistrates’ Courts

In 2024-25, the median time taken for a charge case to be dealt with at adult magistrates’ courts from the date the offence was reported was 92 days, a decrease of 3.2% from 2023-24 (95 days). It took 198 days for 80% of cases to be completed in 2024-25, a day more than the previous year (197 days). For 90% of cases, it took 286 days, 1.7% faster than in 2023-24 (291 days) (Figure 5, Table 4 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

The median time taken for a summons case to be dealt with at adult magistrates’ courts was 223 days in 2024-25, a decrease of 3.0% from 2023-24 (230 days). It took 423 days for 80% of cases to be completed, 0.9% faster than in 2023-24 (427 days). For 90% of cases, it took 622 days, 3.7% faster than in the previous year (646 days) (Figure 6, Table 5 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

Figure 5: Time taken for charge cases completed at Adult Magistrates’ Courts, from date incident reported to disposal at court

Figure 6: Time taken for summons cases completed at Adult Magistrates’ Courts from date incident reported to disposal at court

4.4 Youth Magistrates’ Courts

In 2024-25, the median time taken for a charge case to be dealt with at youth magistrates’ courts, was 158 days, 6.5% faster than the previous year (169 days). It took 260 days for 80% of cases to be completed in 2024-25, 19.5% faster than the previous year (323 days). For 90% of cases, it took 311 days, 23.6% faster than in 2023-24 (407 days) (Figure 7, Table 6 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25. The median time taken for a summons case to be dealt with at youth magistrates’ courts, was 290 days in 2024-25, a day faster than the previous year (291 days). It took 524 days for 80% of cases to be completed, 4.9% faster than in 2023-24 (551 days). For 90% of cases, it took 820 days, 13.7% longer than in the previous year (721 days) (Figure 8, Table 7 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

Figure 7: Time taken for charge cases completed at Youth Magistrates’ courts, from date incident reported to disposal at court

Figure 8: Time taken for summons cases completed at Youth Magistrates’ courts from date incident reported to disposal at court

4.5 Offence Category

In 2024-25, cases involving sexual offences took the longest to complete, with a median time of 630 days. This was the highest among all offence types, but 6.7% faster than in 2023-24 (675 days) and the fastest for this type of case in the past four years.

In contrast, cases involving Motoring (152 days) or Criminal Damage & Arson offences (164 days) were resolved the fastest. These figures for 2024-25 were the quickest times recorded for these types of cases in the last five years (Figure 9, Table 8 in the accompanying Case Processing Time Tables for 2024-25.

When considering average time taken for cases to complete, it’s important to remember however that different types of offences are more likely to be handled in different courts (Crown Court, or a magistrates’ court). It may be more appropriate therefore to compare trends over time within each offence type, rather than comparing different offence types to each other.

Figure 9: Time taken for all cases to complete at courts by offence category

5. Appendix 1: Methodology and Counting Rules

Introduction

The criminal justice system aims to ensure that appropriate actions are taken when someone is found guilty of a crime. For less serious offences, early and proportionate responses—like diversion or using discretion—can help avoid formal court proceedings. These cases are often handled outside of court for the benefit of the individual or the public.

When cases do go to court in Northern Ireland, they are heard in either the Crown Court or in magistrates’ courts (for both adults and youth). The type of court depends on how serious the offence is and the possible sentence which may be imposed. Crown Court cases usually take longer than those in magistrates’ courts.

Some cases may not go through the full court process because of insufficient evidence or if the charges are dropped. Cases may be brought to court by way of summons or charge and may be dealt with in different types of courts. However, despite differences in the types of court, the types of offences and the method by which a defendant is brought to court, the process through which a case proceeds from offence reported to case dealt with, is generally the same (detailed below in the figure below).

Methodlogy of how a defenddant is brought to court

The offence is first reported to the police, or detected by the police, (Offence reported/detected), after which an investigation is conducted. Subject to the outcome of that investigation, the police may charge a suspect, or inform the suspect that they are to be reported (Defendant charged/informed) to the PPS, who will review the case and take a decision as to whether or not to instigate a prosecution.

If a decision is made to prosecute by way of a charge sheet, the police charge the suspect, who has been arrested, and the PPS review the charge before the first court appearance to make sure there is enough evidence at that stage for the defendant to be prosecuted. The defendant will either be:

  • held in police custody overnight and produced at the first available court, where the court will then consider the issue of bail; or

  • released on police bail to appear before court on a stated date within 28 days from the charge.

If the case is commenced by way of a summons, this is issued by either the PPS or a third party (i.e. a government department) and is served on the defendant either by post or in person. The defendant will be required to go to court on the date stated on the summons.

When the police have collected enough evidence, a case file will be prepared and submitted to the PPS (File submission to PPS). The PPS then must apply the test for prosecution and decide whether to prosecute (PPS decision). If the PPS decides to prosecute, a first court date will be set (First court appearance) and the case will proceed through the court as normal with the examination of evidence and witnesses and opportunities for both the prosecution and defence to make their cases. The process concludes when a decision is made by the court. A case is dealt with in court when a defendant is either acquitted, or if the defendant is convicted, when a sentence has been handed down (Court disposal).

It is important to note however, that cases instigated by way of police charge (rather than reported to PPS), will ordinarily appear in court prior to PPS taking a prosecution decision. In general, the purpose of such pre-prosecution decision hearings is to determine issues such as bail or remand. For the purpose of this bulletin therefore, in cases brought before the court by way of charge, the date of the first court appearance relates to the first occasion on which the case appears in court after the PPS has taken a decision to prosecute. In effect therefore, the data ignores court appearances which occur before a prosecution decision is taken. The Department has adopted this approach, with the agreement of criminal justice partners, to provide a better basis for comparing charge cases with reported.

What counts as a case

This bulletin reports on court cases from the year specified, where the PPS prosecuted on behalf of the PSNI, Harbour Police, Airport Constabulary, or the National Crime Agency (NCA). A case is considered to start when an offence is reported or discovered by one of these agencies. It is counted in the statistics once it has gone through the full court process and reached a conclusion. The time measured is the number of calendar days from when the offence was reported to when the court made its final decision for cases dealt with at courts in the year specified. Court recess dates are not taken into account.

Cases that are resolved outside of court, or that don’t complete the full court process, are not included in this dataset. Also excluded, are cases about breaches of previous court orders, as they don’t follow the usual process for new offences. Because of these exclusions, the figures in this bulletin do not represent all court cases—only those that meet the criteria for this dataset. Overall case volumes dealt with by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service may be sourced on the NICTS statistics bulletins page.

The court processing time data is based on the main offence (principal offence) a person is convicted of or dealt with for. This principal offence is usually the one that leads to the most serious punishment. The offences someone is convicted of may be different from the original charges, as these can change during the case. The outcome recorded is the court’s final decision, not including any later appeals. The method for selecting the principal offence follows rules from the Home Office, and the DoJ has developed a methodology applicable to Northern Ireland based on these.

Data source and coverage

The statistics are based on administrative data from the Causeway Data Sharing Mechanism (DSM1), mainly using records from the Criminal Records Viewer (CRV). The CRV includes information from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. Causeway is a shared information system used by criminal justice organisations in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s court system is different from those in England and Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland, so no comparisons are made between them.

Full details of data relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, coherence, user need, cost and confidentiality is available in the accompanying background quality report. Details of the data quality checks and processes that DoJ has in place are available in the Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) document on the DoJ website.

Data strengths and limitations

Strengths

  • Causeway is an integrated messaging system specifically designed to enable the five main criminal justice organisations in Northern Ireland to share information. It uses data from each organisation’s own system which is used to manage day to day business, so the information needs to be highly accurate.

  • The system is reliable, easy to maintain, and trusted by staff. Key staff members have strong experience and skills in using and managing it.

  • The data comes from a full administrative system, meaning it includes all cases—not just a sample. Important data fields are complete and logical.

  • Over time, the system and processes have been improved to fix any quality issues. Statisticians use detailed checks to find and correct any problems in the data.

Limitations

  • The system relies on staff from five different organisations to enter and update information in their own systems.If updates are delayed or mistakes are made, it can cause problems. Because the information is so important however, accuracy is essential.

Interpreting the data

The figures mainly show the average time from when an offence is reported to when the case is resolved in court. The average used here is the median, which means half of the cases were completed in less time, and half took longer. Times for the 80th and 90th percentiles are also given—these show how long it took to complete 80% and 90% of cases, respectively.

Initial analysis showed that a few very slow cases can distort the mean (regular average), making it less reliable. Because of this, the median is used instead, as it gives a better picture of typical case times by avoiding the influence of unusually long cases. For example, the ‘average’ number of days taken to complete a case in 2024-25, when measured using the median, was 189 days compared to 308 days when measured using the mean. The mean however, reflects the time it took to complete the slowest 28% of cases, as 308 days falls at the 72nd percentile (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Distribution curve of cases by days taken from offence reported date to case dealt with at court date

Distribution curve of cases by days taken from offence reported date to case dealt with at court date

Contact Details

Published by: Analytical Services Group, Department of Justice

Lead Statistician: Ivor Graham

Email: statistics.research@justice-ni.gov.uk

This bulletin is available on: Department of Justice website

Feedback on this publication can be provided directly to Analytical Services Group at the email address listed above.

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing or via the OSR website.

All content in this report is licensed and available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. To view this licence, go to: Open Government Licence Version 3

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