TRIAL by jury for some crimes is facing the chop as the backlog of crown court cases hits a record high.

Government ministers have launched a review, to be headed by Investigatory Powers Commissioner Sir Brian Levenson, to consider all options for reducing the number of unheard cases.

One plan is to remove the right to a jury trial from those accused of less serious offences.

The number of criminal cases waiting to be dealt with in England and Wales stands at 73,105, nearly twice the pre-pandemic figure.

Ministers had earlier suggested that jury trials could be scrapped in some cases to cut the backlog.

New Justice Minister Sarah Sackman warned that “there is nothing short of a crisis in the crown court system.”

Home Office Minister Angela Eagle said that “dispensing with jury trials is one difficult decision that might have to be made,” although Ms Sackman pledged that jury trials “are always going to be available for the most serious crimes.”

Sir Brian is expected to present his findings next spring, when ministers will also consider the conclusions from former justice secretary David Gauke’s review of sentencing.