Independent report

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2

The Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, chaired by Sir Brian Leveson, has published Part 2 of the Review.

From:
Ministry of Justice
Published
4 February 2026

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2, Overview

PDF, 388 KB, 24 pages

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2, Volume 1

PDF, 5.6 MB, 364 pages

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2, Volume 2

PDF, 6.9 MB, 392 pages

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2 (Easy read version)

PDF, 5.97 MB, 59 pages

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2, Overview (Welsh version)

PDF, 294 KB, 22 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2, Volume 1 (Welsh version)

PDF, 5.23 MB, 404 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2, Volume 2 (Welsh version)

PDF, 4.94 MB, 461 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts - Sir Brian Leveson

The Lord Chancellor commissioned Former President of the Queen’s Bench Division, Sir Brian Leveson, to carry out an independent review into the criminal courts. Specifically, the review considered two key themes, which are outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToR) as follows:

  • Reform: how the criminal courts could be reformed to ensure cases are dealt with proportionately, in light of the current pressures on the Crown Court
  • Efficiency: how they could operate as efficiently as possible. This should include consideration of the processes of partner agencies where they impact the criminal courts

The Review has now published Part 1 and 2 of the report.

Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1

Updates to this page

Published 4 February 2026

Sign up for emails or print this page