Government to introduce specialist rape courts across England and Wales within two years

The Ministry of Justice will spend about £23 million to create specialist rape courts in every Crown Court across England and Wales over the next two years, according to Andy Burnham. The new rooms will feature private entrances, dedicated waiting rooms and technology for pre-recorded evidence, allowing survivors to observe sentencing remotely. All court personnel will receive trauma-informed training and each survivor will have a designated contact person.

From October, cases will be placed on fixed-date lists rather than floating schedules, a move the prime minister described as rebalancing the scales of justice. The initiative was praised by Rape Crisis England & Wales and highlighted the advocacy of Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who publicly shared her own experience of rape and a 1,000-day court wait. Opposition voices noted concerns about limiting jury trials while welcoming efforts to end delays.