Research, published today by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that despite recent increases, the Ministry of Justice budget has still not returned to pre-2010 levels.

While many areas of government experienced spending cuts during the 2010s, the IFS found the Ministry of Justice has fared worse than the average department over the past decade and a half, and worse than other ‘unprotected’ departments.

Even accounting for recent budget rises, day-to-day spending on justice in 2025–26 is still set to be 24% lower, in per-person terms, than it was in 2007–08, the report found.

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at Victim Support said:

“This chronic, prolonged under investment in the Ministry of Justice has left us with a criminal justice system coming apart at the seams. Prisons are full, court delays have hit record levels and most recently, vital victims’ services have been hit with further funding cuts. The government must use the upcoming spending review to put this right and invest in our justice system and the vital services that support victims. Halving violence against women and girls is an ambitious goal – it can only be achieved through substantial and sustained investment.”