Criminal case backlog in High Court drop from 300 to roughly 100 – DPP

The number of criminal cases waiting to be heard in the High Court has dropped significantly, according to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack.

Speaking at an event on Thursday, Ali-Hack said the number of matters listed for the criminal assizes has fallen from about 300 between 2020 and 2024 to just over 100 since 2025, describing the reduction as a major achievement for the justice system.

“Between 2020 and 2024, we had about 300 cases listed for assizes. From 2025, those have come down to like 100 and something, and this is a remarkable improvement,” Ali-Hack said.

She explained that the reduction is the result of several reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the criminal justice system and reducing delays in the courts.

Efforts are also being made to ensure that new cases are dealt with quickly so that another backlog does not develop

“What we are trying to do at the same time is to maintain a status quo so that we don’t have the backlog building up again, so that persons will have timely trials, and that has been happening,” Ali-Hack said.

Pointing to the progress being made, the DPP noted that a murder case committed only a few years ago is scheduled to be heard next week, while several offences committed last year have already gone to trial.

She also credited the Paper Committal Act for helping to speed up the movement of cases to the High Court.

According to Ali-Hack, the continued reduction in pending cases is helping to ensure faster access to justice while easing pressure on the prison system.

She added that improvements in investigations, prosecutions and prison infrastructure are also contributing to a more effective criminal justice system.