UK rolls out special rape courts to put survivors first

UK Flag. Photo: Ballymoney Chronicles

Rape survivors in England and Wales will be given private entrances and waiting rooms at court, while their cases will receive fixed trial dates under a new government initiative aimed at reducing delays and making the criminal justice system more responsive to victims.

The changes were announced on Monday, September 21, 2026, in a statement published by the UK Ministry of Justice and issued by Lord Chancellor Alex Norris and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Under the programme, every Crown Court in England and Wales will have at least one courtroom specially equipped to hear rape and serious sexual offence cases over the next two years.

The government said the specialist facilities would include private waiting rooms and entrances for victims, as well as equipment allowing evidence to be pre-recorded and sentencing to be observed remotely.

Rape and serious sexual offence cases will also be prioritised, with trials given fixed dates instead of being placed on floating lists where hearings can be moved at short notice.

The government said the changes were intended to address a system in which victims had waited for long periods for their cases to be concluded.

In 2025, rape cases took an average of 424 days to complete after reaching the Crown Court, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Prime Minister Andy 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.”

He added: “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.”

Burnham said the reforms were overdue but acknowledged that changes to prosecution alone would not address the problem.

He said: “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.”

Lord Chancellor Alex Norris said survivors had for too long been left to navigate the criminal justice system without sufficient support.

“Victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt they’ve been left alone facing the criminal justice system for too long. They have been treated as cases to process and not as people to support,” Norris said.

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He said the new funding would provide facilities and training designed around victims’ needs.

“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,” he said.

Norris added: “Real action to improve our courts. Real action for victims. Real action to deliver the justice they deserve.”

The reforms will also require all court staff to undergo trauma-informed training, while the government will trial a system giving victims of sex offences a single point of contact throughout their court process.

A new Rape Justice Taskforce will also bring together leaders from across the criminal justice system to address postponed rape trials and what the government described as myths that contribute to victims withdrawing from their cases.

Ciara Bergman, Chief Executive Officer of Rape Crisis England & Wales, welcomed the measures, saying they included several reforms the organisation had advocated for over many years.

“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,” Bergman said.

She said the organisation particularly welcomed measures aimed at improving trial efficiency and allowing survivors to participate in and observe proceedings more easily.

“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,” she said.

The announcement follows the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

Earlier in September, Burnham announced that all police forces in England and Wales would have dedicated rape and sexual offence investigation teams by the end of 2027.

The government said it had also committed more than £1bn to supporting victims of violence against women and girls since coming into office, alongside measures including domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms and new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders.

The latest reforms follow Charlotte Nichols publicly sharing her experience and campaigning for measures to improve support for victims and survivors of rape and serious sexual offences.