Specialist courts to handle cases of rape and other sexual offences will be introduced across England and Wales over the next two years, the prime minister has announced. Each crown court will have at least one courtroom especially set up to hear such cases, while alleged victims will be able to view proceedings remotely and give evidence from a separate room via video link. They will also be provided with private entrances and waiting rooms to separate them from defendants, though it is understood this will be dependent on the architecture of each building.
Rape Crisis England and Wales said this was a "significant step forward" and addressed several reforms it had been requesting for 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," said the charity's chief executive, Ciara Bergman. Under the new measures, expected to cost around £23m from the Ministry of Justice's budget, court staff will be given "trauma-informed training" and a single person of contact will be assigned to each survivor.
From next month, trials will be given a fixed date rather than placed on floating lists in what Prime Minister Andy Burnham said was an effort to "rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first". The government said the changes follow Labour MP Charlotte Nichols showing "immense strength and bravery" in speaking publicly about being raped and calling for changes to the justice system. Nichols waived her automatic right to anonymity in March when she made a Commons speech and described having to wait more than 1,000 days to go to court.
Earlier this year, the government announced that rape victims would be given access to specialist legal advice throughout the criminal justice process. MP reveals rape ordeal during court reform debate Delays to my rapist's trial left me terrified, survivor tells BBC Rape victims to get specialised legal advice in courts 'Rape victims failed by court delays' say charity Woman dropped sex assault case after court delays Labour promised in its 2024 manifesto to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. "For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system," Burnham said.
"Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice. This is not good enough." The changes were "long overdue" and would make a "significant difference" but focusing on prosecution alone would not be enough, he added. "So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place," the prime minister said.
Nichols spoke publicly for the first time about being raped when she accused the then Justice Secretary, David Lammy, of using crime victims as a "cudgel" to push through his reforms of the legal system. She was criticising the Courts and Tribunals Bill's plans to limit jury trials to cases with a likely prison sentence of three years or more. She said she had waited 1,088 days to go to court, with every day being "agony" and the "trauma" made worse by her role in public life.
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