UK government responds to all 180 Leveson criminal courts review recommendations
The UK government published its response to Sir Brian Leveson's Independent Review of the Criminal Courts on October 12, 2026, setting out decisions on all 180 recommendations aimed at cutting the Crown Court backlog. It backs working with the legal profession on the criminal legal aid market's operating model, agrees in principle to regular legal aid fee reviews, and is exploring AI transcription of court proceedings.
Text (GOV.UK (Ministry of Justice)) → · Legal Futures, Law Gazette
Key points
- The Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Attorney General accepted working with the professions to find the best operating model for criminal legal aid.Legal Futures
- The government agreed in principle to annual legal aid fee reviews from 2027, but says a mechanism should follow court reforms bedding in.Legal FuturesLaw Gazette
- Funding criminal training contracts and match-funding duty solicitor qualifications depend on further evidence and the next Spending Review.Legal FuturesLaw Gazette
- It backed CILEX enhancing training so its lawyers can be formally recognized as duty solicitors upon qualification.Legal Futures
- Work is underway on AI transcription of court proceedings and a possible pilot of AI support for HMCTS contact center staff.Law Gazette
- The response also confirms a new single digital justice ID to track cases from arrest through courts and custody.Law GazetteGOV.UK (Ministry of Justice)
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
GOV.UK (Ministry of Justice)
Law Gazette
Legal Futures