Birmingham charity welcomes specialist courts for rape and sexual offence cases
A Birmingham charity has said they welcome the government's plans to introduce specialist courts for survivors of sexual violence.
Warning: this report contains references to sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.
The Rape and Sexual Violence Project, a charity which supports survivors of sexual violence across Birmingham and Solihull, has welcomed plans to roll out specialist courts for rape and serious sexual offence cases across England and Wales.
Under the government's new plans, every Crown Court will have at least one courtroom dedicated to hearing such cases within the next two years, as part of efforts to reduce delays and make the justice system less traumatic for survivors.
The announcement follows growing concern about the impact of court backlogs on survivors of rape and sexual violence, with some people waiting years for their cases to reach trial.
Yvonne Langham, Head of Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Services at RSVP said she is 'delighted' the government are prioritising rape and sexual violence cases, but the move to reduce court wait times is 'long overdue'.
She said: “I’ve raised concerns with the Crown Prosecution Service on many occasions about the impact these delays have, with some survivors experiencing years of uncertainty and, in some cases, ultimately withdrawing from the process altogether.
“We know waiting times won’t improve overnight, but it’s a really positive step in the right direction.
“However, we must continue listening to survivors and investing in ISVA services, because support is needed throughout the criminal justice journey and not just at the trial.”
As part of the plans, victims will be offered private entrances and waiting rooms to keep them away from defendants, while court staff will receive trauma-informed training. Survivors will also be assigned a single point of contact throughout the process.
From October, trials will also be given fixed dates rather than being placed on floating lists, in a move the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has described as an effort to “rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first”.
The Ministry of Justice package is expected to cost around £23 million.
Reactions from MPs and other charities
The Government credited Labour MP Charlotte Nichols for her “immense strength and bravery” after she spoke publicly about being raped and called for changes to the justice system.
In March, Ms Nichols waived her automatic right to anonymity in a Commons speech, where she spoke about waiting more than 1,000 days for her case to go to court.
She described the new measures as a “hugely important milestone” which could help improve the experience of survivors who are “all too often retraumatised by seeking justice”.
Rape Crisis England and Wales has also welcomed the announcement, calling it a “significant step forward for our justice system”.
Chief executive Ciara Bergman said the reforms reflected the urgent need to ensure courts are “fit for purpose” and properly meet the needs of victims and survivors.
The Government says the specialist courts are part of wider efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, which Labour has pledged to halve within a decade.
Opposition MPs have also welcomed efforts to reduce delays, but have called for further action to clear the courts backlog.
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