Key Points
- Victims in Kent wait an average of 770 days for Crown Courts in Maidstone or Canterbury to deliver justice, including time in Magistrates Court from offense date.
- Data from Q2 2025, longest delay in a decade; in 2016 it was 597 days, shortest 405 days in 2020 due to pandemic lockdowns.
- Open cases in Kent Crown Courts doubled from 1,451 in Q4 2016 to 3,046 in Q4 2025.
- Law Society calls for urgent government investment; President Mark Evans highlights limbo for victims, witnesses, defendants and need for support to local legal firms.
- Extreme cases: Fergus Wilson awaiting trial since August 6, 2021 (potential 2,100 days by May 2027), deferred 19 times; Frederik Brandt convicted after 2,076 days for 2020 assault.
- KentOnline senior reporter Julia Roberts notes trials fixed into 2029, transfers to London courts, blames funding shortages beyond COVID and strikes.
- Ministry of Justice (MoJ) acknowledges courts “on the brink of collapse” with over 80,000 cases nationally; pledges £550m investment, fee increases (£92m solicitors, £34m advocates), unlimited sitting days, expanded magistrates’ powers.
- Claire Davies KC, south eastern circuit leader, reports improvements at Maidstone via judge increases and transfers (194 trials completed, lowest caseloads since 2024); stresses courtroom space over jury issues.
Kent (King County Insider) April 29, 2026 –
Victims of crime in Kent must now wait an average of 770 days before Crown Courts in Maidstone or Canterbury deliver justice, with the Ministry of Justice acknowledging the system is “on the brink of collapse.”
This figure covers the full time from offense to conclusion at either Maidstone or Canterbury Crown Courts, including Magistrates Court phases, based on Law Society data from the second quarter of 2025. As reported by KentOnline, the 770-day average marks the longest delay in a decade.
What Are the Average Wait Times for Justice in Kent Crown Courts?
In 2016, the average wait stood at 597 days. The trajectory has not been steadily upward; the shortest period over 10 years was 405 days in 2020, attributed to pandemic lockdowns keeping people at home and reducing some caseload pressures. Wait times then grew again post-lockdown.
The Law Society of England and Wales stated the justice system faces increasing pressure and requires urgent government investment. Open cases in Kent’s Crown Courts more than doubled over 10 years, rising from 1,451 in quarter four of 2016 to 3,046 in the same period of 2025.
The Law Society emphasized that these figures demonstrate the need for a broad package of measures and sustained investment to repair the justice system, a vital public service. Delays impact every stage of the process, adding stress and uncertainty for all involved.
Law Society President Mark Evans said: “With the backlog in the Crown Courts of Kent more than doubling and cases dragging on for over two years, victims, witnesses and defendants are left in a state of limbo. Local legal communities and high street law firms play a vital role in keeping the system moving. But they cannot do this alone. The UK government must provide sustained investment in Kent’s courts and legal services to ensure that recent improvements are not lost and that there is proper access to justice for everyone.”
Why Do Some Kent Cases Take Over 2,000 Days?
Hidden in the averages are extreme delays. Controversial buy-to-let property tycoon Fergus Wilson awaits trial for alleged assault by beating and racial harassment from a clash with a council employee on August 6, 2021. As covered by KentOnline, his case has been deferred 19 times, with a current trial date of May 5 and 6, 2027—potentially 2,100 days from the offense.
Wilson, who has prostate cancer and reports poor health, said:
“I may not be alive then. The justice system is broken.”
In a case concluded last week, Slovakian-born Frederik Brandt, 30, was convicted of a “ferocious” early-morning assault on a female shop-worker walking to work in Dover. KentOnline reported Brandt admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and received two and a half years at Canterbury Crown Court. The offense occurred on October 20, 2020—2,076 days prior.
KentOnline’s senior Crown Court reporter Julia Roberts confirmed: “Trials at Maidstone Crown Court, with defendants on bail, are currently being fixed way into 2029, and cases are still being routinely transferred to London courts, including the Old Bailey and Woolwich. Covid and the barristers’ strike had an impact, but are not solely to blame as the government would like us to believe. There is a lack of funding and resources across the entire criminal justice system.”
How Does the Ministry of Justice Describe the Crown Court Crisis?
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) acknowledged the scale of the issue. A spokesman said: “The Crown Court is on the brink of collapse, with over 80,000 cases as of December, and victims face devastating delays resulting from years of neglect. It is only by pulling every lever at our disposal – pragmatic structural reform, record financial investment and modernisation – that we can drive down the backlog. Victims have waited long enough. We will deliver the swift, fair justice they deserve while investing £550 million into vital support services to help them through the justice process, such as specialist legal advice.”
The MoJ outlined measures including up to £92 million more per year for criminal legal aid solicitor fees and up to £34 million more per year for criminal legal aid advocate fees. It is also removing financial limits on Crown Court sitting days to hear more cases, and increasing magistrates’ courts’ sentencing powers from six to 12 months to reserve Crown Court time for serious, complex cases.
What Improvements Have Been Seen in Kent Courts Recently?
Claire Davies KC, leader of the south eastern circuit, provided details on progress. She said: “Maidstone Crown Court has suffered as a result of not having a full complement of judges for some time – this position has now changed. Since the increase in sitting days, Maidstone Crown Court has benefited as it moved work into both Southwark and Woolwich Crown Courts, which improved the outstanding case load and has been described as highly successful. Some 194 trials have been completed, and Maidstone has the lowest outstanding number of cases since June 2024, and lowest outstanding trials since August 2024. Canterbury has also been using an additional court room which has helped with their outstanding case load. The reality is this all demonstrates that juries are not the issue, but courtroom space is. Kent’s future is going in the right direction.”
These developments reflect ongoing efforts to address the backlog amid persistent challenges in Kent’s justice system.
Background of the Development
The delays in Kent Crown Courts stem from a decade-long buildup, with open cases doubling since 2016 due to factors Including post-pandemic recovery, barristers’ strikes, and chronic underfunding. Data from the Law Society tracks quarterly averages, showing peaks in 2025. Individual cases like Fergus Wilson’s highlight systemic deferrals, while MoJ interventions since late 2024, such as judge allocations and court transfers, mark recent shifts. KentOnline reporting, including from Julia Roberts, has documented transfers to London venues and listings into 2029.
Prediction:
Extended waits of 770 days or more can prolong stress and uncertainty for victims, witnesses, and defendants in Kent, potentially affecting health outcomes as seen in Fergus Wilson’s case. Backlog reductions through MoJ investments and court expansions may shorten future timelines, easing limbo states, but sustained funding is needed to prevent reversals. Local legal firms’ capacity could stabilize access if supported, while expanded magistrates’ powers might divert minor cases, reserving Crown Court resources for complex matters and indirectly benefiting all parties involved.
