The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report, Speeding up justice: avoidable delay in the criminal justice system, said it “does not deliver value for money”.

According to the report, Crown Court cases in Northern Ireland typically take more than 500 days from the date an offence is reported until a verdict is delivered in court, twice as long as in England and Wales.

It adds that around 12 per cent of Crown Court cases in Northern Ireland take in excess of 1,000 days to complete.

Kieran Donnelly, the Comptroller and Auditor General, examined the delivery of the four main justice organisations: the PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), the Northern Ireland Court and Tribunals Service (NICTS), and the Department of Justice.

Speaking on publication, Mr Donnelly said: “Currently the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland does not deliver value for money.

“The cost of criminal justice is significantly higher than in England and Wales and cases take considerably longer to complete. This has negative impacts on victims, defendants and witnesses.

“The only way to address these issues effectively is through developing true partnership working between the police, prosecution, courts and the judiciary within which specific reform projects can be pursued.”