Romford County Court huge delays sees people wait nearly three years for trials.
Huge delays to civil cases means people are waiting almost three years on average for some trials to take place at Romford County Court.
The average wait is 149 weeks, two years and 10 months, for trials in cases not classed as small claims.The analysis of civil justice statistics has been carried by campaign group APIL (the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers).
“During any delay justice is at a standstill. Hold-ups have increased nationally but at some courts, like Romford, the situation is particularly dire,” said APIL president Jonathan Scarsbrook.
“Cases held up for so long are likely to involve people who have been seriously injured due to others’ negligence. They will be fighting for answers as to who was at fault for what happened to them,” he explained.
Other courts facing long delays were Southend County Court, in Essex, where the average wait is 122 weeks, two years and four months.
“Causes of delays include a shortage of judges and problems with digital systems. We have even known hearings to be cancelled on the day they were due to go ahead because no judge was available,” said Jonathan.
“England and Wales once had a justice system which was held up as an example to all others. But now we have a system which is fraught with delays, is short staffed, and with court buildings which are in a state of disrepair. In a modern and just society, we should be able to expect a fully funded and supported court system which provides access to justice to all who need it,” he added
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