England and Wales to have specialist courts for rape cases
The reforms aim to cut delays after rape cases took 424 days on average to complete last year, officials said.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offences will be established in every Crown Court in England and Wales over the next two years.
- Funding of around £23 million will support "trauma-informed training" for court staff and shift trials from "floating lists" to fixed dates starting next month, addressing delays that often cause survivors to withdraw cases.
- Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who waited 1,088 days for her own trial, called the reforms a "hugely important milestone" reflecting her advocacy for a victim-focused justice system.
- Rape Crisis England and Wales welcomed the announcement as a "significant step forward for our justice system," with Chief Executive Ciara Bergman emphasizing courts must better meet survivor needs.
- Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy called the delay-tackling measures "long overdue" but criticized the government's separate plans to restrict jury trials, arguing backlogs should not undermine the right to trial by jury.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Prime Minister Announces the Rollout of Rape Courts Across England and Wales as Part of Justice Reforms
Specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offence cases will be introduced across England and Wales over two years, with reforms aimed at reducing delays and supporting victims.
Bromsgrove Advertiser
kidderminstershuttle.co.ukWest Mercia commissioner welcomes specialist sexual offence courts
WEST Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has welcomed the planned introduction of specialist courts to handle rape and sexual offence…
Rape cases in the United Kingdom can drag on for years before they are heard. Victims wait an average of 424 days for a case to be completed from start to finish. In some cases, this can even extend to more than 1,000 days. The British government wants to speed up the process and is introducing measures. One of the interventions is that every court will be provided with a separate room and entrance for rape cases, so that victims cannot encount…
Amanda Martin MP welcomes specialist rape courts announcement
Amanda Martin MP has welcomed the Government’s announcement that specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offences will be rolled out across every Crown Court in England and Wales, saying victims and survivors deserve a justice system designed around their needs.
UK to introduce special rape and serious sexual offence courts, as prosecution rates remain ‘shamefully’ low
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced dedicated courts for sexual offence cases. These new courts aim to expedite convictions and reduce case backlogs significantly. Specialized training will be provided to court personnel for handling sensitive cases. Victims will receive a dedicated point of contact throughout the legal process. This initiative supports the government's commitment to reducing violence against women.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
![[your]NEWS](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroundnews.b-cdn.net%2Finterests%2Ffb6dc495f74049f513563c33352175eaa0ecd509.jpg%3Fwidth%3D60&w=128&q=75)
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
