Victims are being failed by record crown court delays which are deepening their trauma and making many feel justice is ‘out of reach’, the Victims’ Commissioner has warned
Victims are being failed by record crown court delays which are deepening their trauma and making many feel justice is “out of reach”, the Victims’ Commissioner has warned.
Nearly half of victims – 48% – have had a scheduled trial date pushed back at least once, but often repeatedly, according to a survey released on Tuesday by Baroness Newlove. One victim told her: “It’s like I woke up one day and I’d lost five years of my life,”
Many victims of serious offences including rape, murder and robbery, are facing years-long waits for justice and are struggling to cope, with many unable to work or turning to drugs, alcohol and self-harm, her report said. Baroness Newlove fears victims could stop seeking justice altogether if the system isn’t improved. She also criticised poor communication, with victims being told their trial date had been moved at the last minute and without any explanation.
Her report shows the number of crown court cases adjourned more than three times on the day of trial was four times higher in 2023/24 than in 2019/2020, rising to 87 from 20. A record 73,105 cases were outstanding in the Crown Courts in England and Wales at the end of September 2024.
Mila, a victim whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said she was 25 when she reported her crime and is now 30. “I feel like I can’t remember the second half of my 20s,” she said. “The only memory I’ve got of the second half of my 20s is going through the court system because that’s all you can think about and your life gets put on hold… literally it’s like I woke up one day and I’d lost five years of my life.”
She said it was “just horrendous” being told things last minute, adding: “If something happens last minute, that’s just rubbish, you know, and nobody can help that. But when you know that something’s been simmering for a few weeks, and nobody’s given you the heads up. That’s horrible.”
Another victim who went to the doctor about chest pains, which were from stress, said: “It’s those two and then three years of just waiting and it’s like going to the lion’s den, you feel like it’s getting closer and you’re getting more anxious.”
Baroness Newlove, who is tasked with advocating for victims, has called on the Government to provide emergency cash for victim support services during this “time of crisis”. She branded real-term cuts to victim support as “ill-advised” and “short-sighted” amid a spending freeze.
The commissioner added: “For far too many victims, justice now feels out of reach. For those affected by the most serious crimes, reporting has become a years-long ordeal. These delays don’t just prolong the process—they deepen the trauma. Victims’ lives are put on hold, relationships are strained, and their jobs and prospects are threatened. Justice should never come at such a cost.”
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “This Government inherited a record and rising courts backlog – that’s why we’ve asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose once-in-a-generation reform to deliver swifter justice for victims.
“We’ve already funded an additional 2,500 sitting days, raising court capacity to the highest in almost ten years and are committed to working with our partners to deliver longer-term reform. We will not stop until we have a system that protects victims, supports their journey to justice and holds perpetrators to account.”
