Court backlog of more than 1,100 casespublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 19 May 2021
BBC Radio Shropshire
Coronavirus has created a backlog of more than 1,100 criminal cases in courts across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
According to figures seen by the BBC, the caseload of Crown courts in West Mercia is now almost two thirds bigger than at the start of the pandemic, with some cases delayed by years.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice said it had kept the justice system moving, with urgent cases such as domestic abuse being prioritised.