County Courts in Crisis: What the Justice Committee’s Report Means for Creditors
In July 2025, the Justice Committee published a damning report into the state of the civil justice system in England and Wales — and its findings confirm what many creditors, solicitors, and enforcement professionals have suspected for years: the County Court is in crisis.
The Committee described the system as “dysfunctional” and unfit for modern demands, with widespread operational failings that are actively undermining access to justice. From chronic delays to court disrepair, the report calls for urgent reform — but in the meantime, the impact on claimants remains immediate and severe.
A Broken Civil Justice System
One of the most striking findings in the report is the sheer length of time it now takes for a civil claim to proceed through the County Court system. Small claims are now taking, on average, over 50 weeks from issue to trial — a staggering increase from 31.6 weeks in 2015. For fast-track and multi-track claims, the average now exceeds 79 weeks.
While the pandemic exacerbated the backlog, the Committee found that these delays pre-date COVID and are part of a long-term decline. This isn’t a temporary issue — it’s a structural one.
The situation is further worsened by significant judicial and staff shortages. Around 70 District Judge positions remain unfilled in London and the South East alone, and many hearings are now reliant on part-time Deputy Judges. HMCTS has also seen high staff turnover, with recruitment and retention impacted by poor pay and working conditions.
For claimants, this means longer waiting times, inconsistent service, and little confidence in when — or if — their matter will progress.
Technology Failing to Deliver
Digitisation was expected to be a silver bullet. Instead, the HMCTS Reform Programme has delivered limited results, with many systems still reliant on paper processes and outdated workflows. The report noted a failure to integrate systems across courts, particularly between the Civil National Business Centre (CNBC) and local courts, causing further fragmentation in service delivery.
Despite promises of modernisation, creditors still face unclear communication channels, difficulty obtaining case updates, and inconsistent reporting. The result is a postcode lottery where outcomes vary dramatically depending on where a claim is issued and processed.
What This Means for Creditors
The real-world impact of these delays is significant. For solicitors, debt recovery agents, and creditors — particularly in sectors such as utilities, trade credit, or property — the delay between judgment and enforcement creates real commercial risk.
As time passes, debtors may move, dispose of assets, or simply become more difficult to trace. A delay of 12–18 months can be the difference between recovery and write-off. The County Court process is no longer just inefficient — it’s becoming commercially unviable for many organisations.
Looking Ahead
The Justice Committee’s findings are not just a critique of court processes — they are a call to action. Creditors need to assess their enforcement strategies carefully and consider alternatives where appropriate. The full report can be accessed here.
At Court Enforcement Services, we continue to support law firms, local authorities, utilities, and commercial creditors with fast, compliant, and effective High Court enforcement services. As the wider justice system continues to face challenges, we remain committed to delivering performance, transparency, and results.
If you’d like to explore how High Court enforcement could support your recovery strategy, contact our team at bd@courtenforcementservices.co.uk.
