A BACKLOG of court cases could still be unresolved in six to 12 months.

Concerns are ongoing that a backlog of court cases could threaten the UK Criminal Justice System.

And the ripples are being felt in policing.

Cumbria Police Federation chairman Paul Williams said: "It will always affect policing because police deal directly with victims.

"We comfort victims who will suffer if potential offenders walk away."

He added that police officers will come under criticism from members of the public who feel failed by the justice system because they are the point of contact.

He said: "It's bound to have a direct impact on the way we police."

The pandemic has had a systemic impact on the UK, including its justice system.

Mr Williams said: "It's a hard one to know the solution for because the pandemic has effected every single person in the country.

"It's effected every single office, public sector business and organisation.

"It will be interesting to see the knock-on effect in six to 12 months time, I bet we're still dealing with a back log even then."

The so called 'Covid courts' which were established to begin handling cases again after lockdown have had an impact on the backlog.

But Mr Williams said: "It's not just a question of the courts being open it's a question of getting the staff."

The police federation chairman added that courts have their work cut out finding qualified employees for new roles post-coronavirus.

Courts are now seeking new members of staff to enforce social distancing measures in the court precinct or ensure virtual cases run smoothly.

A backlog of cases for some of the most serious crimes currently sits at around 45,500 with as long as four years between an alleged offence and a criminal trial.

A study from Crest Advisory estimates that the Criminal Justice System could have a backlog of 195,000 cases by 2024.

However, the Ministry of Justice has hit-out at the study, telling the press that it was based on "extreme assumptions."

Defendants can be held on remand for longer and victims left without closure.