A fast-track trial pilot is under way at the Crown court in Reading to try and expedite cases which are most likely to crack, after the backlog of cases reached a 25-year high last month.

The Gazette understands the initiative will see certain short bail cases, for which evidence suggests that the matter could or should resolve without a trial, placed into the ‘fast track’ and brought forward rather than being listed for the future.

One of Reading’s eight courts has been dedicated to the initiative. It is understood that the move will not affect the court’s ability to list within 12 months cases involving rape, children, serious sexual offences and vulnerable complainants, or the prioritisation of cases where the defendant is in custody.

The Crown court backlog currently stands at 76,957 cases, a level which minister for courts and legal services Sarah Sackman called ‘simply unacceptable’.

The latest figures, covering January to March, show an 11% increase on the same period last year (69,021), and an increase from 74,592 since December. At this rate, the backlog will reach 100,000 cases by autumn next year.