The government has announced the creation of specialist courts in England and Wales to try rape and serious sexual offences. This move acknowledges that the current system is failing victims, with rape cases in 2025 taking an average of 424 days after reaching the crown court.
Ministers have also committed to specialist units in every police force, which are due to be in place by the end of next year. The courts will have slightly longer to prepare facilities, including separate waiting rooms for victims and options to observe sentencing hearings remotely.
Two new taskforces have been unveiled, one focusing on rape justice and another, chaired by Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, addressing misogynistic attitudes. These initiatives are part of a broader government strategy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.