That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to establish dedicated rape courts in every crown court across England and Wales over the next two years, aimed at reducing trial delays for victims. The initiative includes setting fixed dates for trials, private entrances for victims, and specialized training for staff to support victims throughout their cases. Expected to cost around £23 million, the plan also includes measures to prevent future sexual offenses, though legal groups caution that finding sufficient lawyers and judges remains a challenge.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to roll out dedicated rape courts across all 29 Crown Courts in England and Wales within the next two years. Each court will have at least one courtroom specifically for handling cases of rape and serious sexual offenses, providing victims with a private entrance and waiting room separate from defendants. The initiative aims to reduce trial delays by assigning fixed dates instead of placing cases on floating lists. Trauma-informed training will also be provided to court staff, ensuring victims have a single point of contact throughout the process. Estimated costs for these measures are around £23 million from the Ministry of Justice budget. This move follows Labour MP Charlotte Nichols’ public speech in March where she waived her right to anonymity to advocate for changes, highlighting the need for reform to better support rape survivors and "rebalance the scales of justice."
Written for “Rape Courts Initiative England Wales” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Specialist courts to handle rape cases are being set up in every crown court in the country.
asserted
courts → see → country
A dedicated courtroom to prosecute serious sexual offences will be established in crown courts across England and Wales in the next two years in a bid to reduce the length of time victims are waiting for justice.
asserted
victims → prosecute → justice
From October, rape trials will be given a fixed date, rather than being placed on 'floating lists' where the start of a case can slip by days, weeks or months.
asserted
start → give → days
Victims will be offered a private entrance and waiting room to keep them away from the defendant.
asserted
Victims → offer → defendant
Court staff are also being trained so victims can have a single person to contact about their case.
asserted
victims → train → case
Andy Burnham announced the package of measures set to cost around £23million as he pledged to 'rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first.'
Specialist rape courts were first set up as a pilot scheme in Leeds, Newcastle and Snaresbrook Crown Court in London in 2022, but now there will be one in every crown court.
asserted
courts → announce → court
Legal groups welcomed the move, but they warned it will still prove difficult to find lawyers and judges to hear the cases.
asserted
it → welcome → cases
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a package of measures to include setting up dedicated serious sexual offences courtrooms across England and Wales
asserted
Burnham → announce → England
Mr Burnham said: 'For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system.
asserted
victims → say → system
'Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice.
asserted
victims → remain → justice
That's why we are making major changes to rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first.
asserted
we → make → victims
This includes rolling out specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sex offences.
asserted
This → include → rape
These changes are long overdue and will make a significant difference, but focusing on prosecution alone will not be enough.
asserted
focusing → make → prosecution
'So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place.'
asserted
we → ensure → place
Andrew Thomas KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: 'This is excellent news.
asserted
This → say → Association
For too long, cases of rape, serious sexual violence and domestic abuse have been pushed to the back of the queue.
asserted
cases → push → queue
'It is practical measures like this which are needed to reduce the effect of court delays.'
asserted
which → need → delays
The Aporia
