Bolton’s justice system is “at breaking point” according to an MP and former barrister, with a backlog of nearly 500 serious criminal cases build up.

According to the Ministry of Justice, a total of 478 cases have yet to be heard at Bolton crown court, a substantial chunk of the 3,016 cases waiting to be heard across Greater Manchester as a whole with a strike by barristers over pay likely to increase this further.

Crown court cases are amongst the most serious the justice system has to deal with including assault, robbery and even murder, with a backlog like this meaning that the victims are being 'let down' according to Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi.

She said: “What we are seeing here is the impact of 12 years of austerity on the legal system, it is at breaking point.

“Victims of justice are being let down and the Conservative Party refuse to address these issues.

“This government have given the green light to criminals to flourish.”

Ms Qureshi, a former criminal barrister and shadow minister for justice, posed the question about Bolton’s case backlog in the House of Commons earlier this month.

The problems Bolton is facing comes amid a nationwide 'crisis' with the total backlog across England and Wales standing at 58,818.

This week, barristers staged a nationwide strike over a long-running pay dispute, with some junior barrisers earning under £20,000 a year.

Barristers on picket lines accused the Government of not listening to their concerns about the criminal justice system, and are angry that a proposed pay rise of 15 per cent would not kick in immediately or apply to backlogged cases.

Yesterday's walkout was the second of 14 days of action planned over the next four weeks - with an additional day added each week for the next three weeks.

But the government says part of the backlog has also been caused by the pandemic.

Conservative Under-Secretary of State for Justice James Cartlidge MP said: “The Government is committed to supporting the recovery of the courts.

“We recognise that the impact of the pandemic in courts has been uneven across the country, with the North West being one of the areas experiencing a greater increase in caseload.

“At the end of December 2021, the outstanding caseload in the Greater Manchester Local Criminal Justice Board was 3,016 and at Bolton Crown Court, it was 478.

“There were 58,818 outstanding cases nationally.

“There will always be outstanding cases as these figures include cases that are being prepared to be heard in the courts.”