A new victim survey is seeking to understand the impact of court waiting times — including delays caused by the Crown Court backlog — on victims across England and Wales.

• Commissioner seeks victims’ views on the impact of court delays.
• Survey open to any victim in England and Wales whose case resulted in a charge by the Crown Prosecution Service.
• Launch comes amid fears that lengthy delays risk fuelling victim withdrawal.
• The Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, has launched a new survey exploring the impact court waiting times have on victims across England and Wales and the services in place to support them.

Amid lengthy delays throughout the criminal justice system – from police investigations to court proceedings, including the Crown Court backlog – it’s important for the Victims’ Commissioner to hear from victims about the impact these are having on their experiences of the criminal justice system.

Latest Ministry of Justice figures show that over a quarter (27%) of cases were rearranged on the day of trial at the end of December 2023.  Almost two thirds (59%) of adult rape investigations had to be ended due to victims withdrawing. The current Crown Court open caseload stands at a record 67,573 cases – 16,031 of which have been outstanding for a year or more.

It is feared that these conditions are placing unprecedented strain on both victims and the services in place to support them as well as keep them engaged with the criminal justice system.

The information shared in the survey will inform the Victims’ Commissioner upcoming work, including a report which intends to examine how these delays are impacting victims and identify measures to ease the burden and ensure victims receive the support they need and justice outcomes they deserve.

Launching the survey, the Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, said:

“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.

I often hear from frustrated victims anxiously awaiting their day in court. Stuck in limbo for years, one victim even questioned whether a justice system inflicting such delays on victims can even claim to be delivering justice. It is clear to me that these aren’t isolated examples. These are systemic issues, and it is causing victims real and undue distress.

That’s why it’s so important as many victims as possible share their experiences in this survey. By using their voice, victims influence the recommendations I put to government and criminal justice agencies and help shape a justice system that puts the needs of victims first.”

The survey is anonymous and only takes five minutes to complete. It is open to victims in England and Wales whose crime resulted in a charge by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), regardless of when the crime took place or whether the case is still ongoing.

It is available in English and Welsh on the Victims’ Commissioner’s website and closes Thursday 12 September.

Updated on: 21 August 2024