A new survey is seeking to build understanding of the impact of Crown court delays on victims across England and Wales. The victims’ commissioner Baroness Newlove (Helen Newlove) is seeking anonymous feedback from victims of alleged crimes leading in a charge by the CPS, regardless of when the alleged crime took place or whether the case is still ongoing.
As of December 2023, 67,573 cases were open in the Crown court, with around 16,000 cases outstanding for a year or longer, according to Ministry of Justice figures.
The news survey ‘aims to give victims a voice’ and ‘shape solutions’, Baroness Newlove said.
She added: ‘No one should be expected to wait years before their case gets to court. Yet justice is not being delivered in a timely or effective way, and it is victims who are ultimately paying the price. With a record backlog in our crown Courts, the justice system is under immense strain, and we cannot ignore its impact on victims. This survey aims to give victims a voice, help us understand how these challenges affect them – and shape solutions.’
From October to December 2023, 27% of cases were rearranged on the day of trial, up one percentage point from the previous quarter, according to MoJ figures.
Newlove said it was ‘important as many victims as possible share their experiences in this survey.
Findings from the survey, which is open until 12 September, will be published in a report examining how delays are impacting victims’ experience of the court system.
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