Rape survivors in England and Wales are set to receive additional support in court under a new UK Government initiative designed to reduce delays and make the justice process more responsive to victims.
Under the programme, survivors will have access to private entrances and waiting areas at court, while rape and serious sexual offence cases will be assigned fixed trial dates.
The measures were announced on Monday, September 21, 2026, by the UK Ministry of Justice in a statement issued by Lord Chancellor Alex Norris and Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The government said every Crown Court in England and Wales would have at least one courtroom specially equipped to handle rape and serious sexual offence cases within the next two years.
The specialist facilities will include private waiting areas and entrances for victims, as well as technology that will allow evidence to be recorded in advance and sentencing proceedings to be viewed remotely.
Rape and serious sexual offence cases will also be given priority, with trials scheduled for fixed dates rather than being placed on floating lists where hearings can be changed at short notice.
The government said the reforms were intended to address prolonged delays faced by victims before their cases are concluded.
Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that rape cases that reached the Crown Court took an average of 424 days to complete in 2025.
The new measures are aimed at reducing those delays while providing a more private and supportive court experience for survivors.
Source: PUNCH
