Specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offences are set to be rolled out across the country, Andy Burnham has announced. The Prime Minister said victims have felt let down for too long by the crisis-hit courts system, which leaves many waiting in limbo for years for justice.
Rollout across Crown Courts
The government said over the next two years, every Crown Court in England and Wales will get at least one courtroom especially set up to hear rape and serious sexual offences. There will also be specialist upgrades including private waiting rooms and entrances for victims.
The Ministry of Justice said rape cases will be prioritised with trials given fixed dates - rather than being placed on floating lists, risking more delay.
Prime Minister's statement
Mr Burnham said: "For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system. Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice. This is not good enough. That's why we are making major changes to rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first. This includes rolling out specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sex offences."
He added: "These changes are long overdue and will make a significant difference, but focusing on prosecution alone will not be enough. So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place."
MP's personal campaign
The Ministry of Justice said the changes follow Labour MP Charlotte Nichols "showing immense strength and bravery" in telling her own story in the Commons. In a powerful speech earlier this year, Ms Nichols said she waited 1,088 days to go to court after she made a claim of rape.
Ms Nichols told The Mirror: "Today marks a hugely important milestone, helping to improve the experience of victims and survivors of sexual violence in the court system, who are all too often retraumatised by seeking justice. I'm proud that substantive meaningful change has come from waiving my anonymity to speak about my own experiences. I can't tell you how much the support of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor means to me as I know the difference these measures would have made for me and for so many of the survivors I have worked with in recent years."
Backlog figures and reaction
Labour also promised in its 2024 manifesto to "fast-track rape cases, with specialist courts". According to Rape Crisis England & Wales, figures from the end of March showed there were 15,373 sexual offence cases awaiting trial in the Crown Court. There were also 4,896 adult rape cases, which they said was a 121% increase compared to three years ago.
Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, welcomed the changes announced today. She said: "This important package of measures represents a significant step forward for our justice system, and includes many of the reforms that Rape Crisis England & Wales have been calling for over many years. Taken together, they reflect the urgency of ensuring that courts are fit for purpose and properly meet the needs of victims and survivors, which is crucial to securing justice."
She added: "We're particularly pleased to see measures that will improve trial efficiency and ensure survivors are better able to participate in, and observe, proceedings. The recognition that suitable separate waiting areas, entrances and exits are essential to prevent survivors from being intimidated and distressed by the presence of perpetrators and their supporters is also significant. This welcome change is both necessary and long overdue."
Lord Chancellor Alex Norris said: "The funding we are announcing today will provide that support that victims deserve - delivering courtrooms that are designed with victim needs in mind and providing specialist training for staff to handle these cases with care. Real action to improve our courts. Real action for victims. Real action to deliver the justice they deserve."
Victims Commissioner Claire Waxman said: "I first called for specialist courts in 2021 as a practical way to fast-track rape and sexual offence cases, reduce delays, and improve victims' experiences of the justice system. With specialist courts featuring in the 2024 manifesto, it is welcome to see the Government delivering on a long overdue commitment. However, the reality is that the Crown Court backlog is now significantly worse than when I first made that call. Tens of thousands more victims are now waiting for their cases to reach trial, and specialist courts alone will not be enough to tackle the scale of the delays or deliver the swift justice victims deserve. Indeed, court delays could prevent many rape victims from accessing the specialist courtrooms that are being set up to support them. The measures being proposed are welcome, but they should be standard for every courtroom and every victim. Good technology, separate waiting areas, and trauma-informed processes should be the norm across the justice system, not the exception."
