Specialist rape courts to be rolled out across England and Wales

Every Crown Court will have at least one courtroom specially equipped to deal with rape and serious sexual offence cases within the next two years, the government has announced.

The courts will include private entrances and waiting rooms for victims, facilities for giving pre-recorded evidence and technology allowing victims to observe sentencing remotely.

Rape and serious sexual offence trials will also be given fixed dates rather than being placed on floating lists, where hearings can be moved at short notice.

The government said rape cases took an average of 424 days to complete after reaching the Crown Court in 2025, with delays contributing to victims withdrawing from cases. The changes will be backed by a multi-million-pound investment, with all court staff receiving trauma-informed training.

A new Rape Justice Taskforce will also bring together senior figures from across the criminal justice system to address postponed trials and what the government describes as myths that contribute to victims withdrawing from cases.

The announcement comes less than a month after the government brought forward the deadline for every police force in England and Wales to establish dedicated rape and sexual offence investigation teams. Those teams are now due to be in place by December 2027, 18 months earlier than originally planned.

The government said the two initiatives would form part of a wider programme to improve the criminal justice response to rape and sexual offences and support its target of halving violence against women and girls within a decade.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said prosecution rates for rape remained low and that many victims were waiting years for justice.

“Focusing on prosecution alone will not be enough,” he said, adding that the government would also step up efforts to prevent sexual offences.

The Law Commission said the announcement reflected many of the recommendations in its 2025 report calling for a specialist sexual offences court within the existing court estate, supported by specialist listing practices, trained personnel and appropriate technology.

Rape Crisis England and Wales welcomed the measures, describing them as a significant step forward and highlighting the importance of separate waiting areas, entrances and exits for victims.

The government said the changes were intended to put victims at the centre of the criminal justice system while increasing the efficiency of rape and serious sexual offence trials.