Dedicated courtrooms for serious sexual offenses will be established in every crown court across England and Wales within the next two years. This initiative aims to reduce trial delays and prioritize victims of sexual assault. Beginning in October, rape trials will be assigned fixed dates, moving away from "floating lists" that can cause significant postponements.
Victims will have access to private waiting areas and entrances, ensuring they are kept separate from defendants. Court staff are also undergoing training to provide victims with a single point of contact for their cases. The package of measures, costing approximately £23 million, was announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who pledged to "rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first."
Specialist rape courts were initially piloted in Leeds, Newcastle, and Snaresbrook Crown Court in London starting in 2022. The expansion will now see these dedicated facilities in all crown courts.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a package of measures to include setting up dedicated serious sexual offences courtrooms across England and Wales.
"For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offenses have felt let down by our justice system," Burnham stated. "Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice. This is not good enough."
He added that the government is making significant changes to improve the system, emphasizing that focusing solely on prosecution is insufficient. "So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place," he said.
Legal groups have welcomed the initiative, although they cautioned about potential difficulties in securing sufficient lawyers and judges to preside over these specialized cases. Andrew Thomas KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, described the news as "excellent" and noted that "It is practical measures like this which are needed to reduce the effect of court delays."