Reading Crown Court Reading Better Access

: Situated at The Old Shire Hall, The Forbury, Reading, RG1 2QH , the Grade II listed building blends historic Victorian architecture with modernist judicial infrastructure.

: One courtroom is specifically allocated to these expedited hearings, preventing them from being buried under more complex, long-term trials. reading crown court reading better

: Defendants on bail often face months or years of uncertainty before their cases are heard. : Situated at The Old Shire Hall, The

: Under the principle of "Open Justice," the court now allows members of the public and press to apply for remote observation of certain hearings, provided they apply in advance. Long-Term Improvements and Expansion : Under the principle of "Open Justice," the

The launch of the "Reading Better" strategy comes at a critical time for the UK legal system. By late 2025, the national Crown Court backlog reached a staggering . Reading Crown Court specifically faced an all-time high in pending trials, leading to the following challenges:

Beyond the procedural "Reading Better" pilot, physical redevelopments are underway to ensure the facility remains fit for purpose:

Reading Crown Court's "Reading Better" initiative is a designed to tackle a record-breaking case backlog by expediting hearings for specific low-complexity offenses. By dedicating one of its eight courtrooms to this initiative, the facility aims to resolve cases where evidence suggests a trial might be avoided, ensuring more efficient delivery of justice for the Berkshire community. The Crisis: Addressing the Judicial Backlog