The government has announced specialist rape and serious sex offences courtrooms to be rolled out across every Crown Court in England and Wales. As part of the announcement, the government said that rape and serious sex offences cases will take priority, every Crown Court in England and Wales will get at least one courtroom dedicated to these cases for the next two years and the initiative will be supported by investment. The government intends to provide private entrances and waiting rooms as well as facilities equipped to pre-record evidence and observe sentencing remotely. In addition, trials will be given a fixed date as opposed to being placed on floating lists.
Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC said: “We are pleased the government has taken a new approach to reduce court delays and deliver timely justice for victims, complainants and defendants. Specialist courts, unlike the proposals to curtail jury trials, have already been shown to work so today’s announcement is a move in the right direction. We would urge the government to also include domestic abuse cases alongside rape and serious sexual offences in this new scheme. The Bar Council has consistently called on the government to honour its 2024 manifesto promise and set up specialist sexual and domestic abuse courts, rather than restrict jury trials.”
Last year, the Law Commission published its recommendations to government for reform of sexual offences cases as part of the government’s End-to-End Rape Review. Not only did it recommend the retention of juries, but it also urged the government to introduce specialist sexual offences courts within existing court buildings.
In its manifesto, Labour said it would establish specialist courts at every Crown Court in England and Wales to fast-track rape cases as part of its strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. However, the amendment to the Courts and Tribunals Bill that would have introduced these specialist courts was rejected at committee stage of the Courts and Tribunals Bill.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill is scheduled to return to the House of Commons for its report stage and third reading on Tuesday 13 October.