The government’s commitment to deliver ‘swifter justice’ for rape victims is in jeopardy after a survey conducted by the Criminal Bar Association revealed that barrister numbers to prosecute rape cases will shrink by nearly one-third.

The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls by 2030 – and the criminal justice system’s response to rape is central to that pledge, justice minister Lord Ponsonby told the House of Lords in January.

However, latest findings of the CBA’s national survey released today show that 39% of barristers currently on the Crown Prosecution Service's RASSO (rape and serious sexual offences) panel do not intend to reapply. Only 9% of barristers intend to join the panel.

Three-quarters of barristers quitting the panel said the pay fails to adequately reflect the hours they work. Over half of respondents also cited the ‘emotional exhaustion’ of doing RASSO work.

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The CBA's survey received 1,717 responses and initial findings released last week showed that one in three criminal barristers intends to quit. The findings released today explain why.

Nearly two-thirds of barristers suffered a chronic lack of sleep, 55% were eating poorly due to their workloads and 54% had unhealthy coping mechanisms. Three-quarters suffered from low mood and fatigue and 64% felt overwhelmed and unable to cope. 

Nearly half of respondents were suffering poor mental health and 44% had physical health issues. ‘In case it is thought that this might be the “odd ache or pain” we point out that the examples provided included hospitalisation, heart attacks, stroke, chronic back pain and arthritis. Reported mental health issues included burnout, breakdowns, self-harm and suicide attempts. One in five of us are seeking counselling or medical support,’ CBA chair Mary Prior KC said.

The survey findings should concern the government, which is awaiting recommendations from Sir Brian Leveson on how to bring down the Crown court backlog. 

'The 1,441 trials adjourned on the first day of trial due to a lack of advocates in 2023 and the 903 cancelled in the first nine months of 2024 will only increase if the attrition rate of the criminal bar continues,' Prior said.