Is our current system delivering justice at all?

19 March 2026

Proposed Reforms to the Courts and Tribunals Bill raise important questions about our justice system – importantly for us, is our current system delivering justice at all?

Misogyny as a hate crime

18 March 2026

In 2020 we submitted evidence to the Law Commission’s review of hate crime legislation, and expressed our view that violence against women and girls would not be better addressed through a hate crime framework, unless several issues within the criminal justice system itself were resolved. Here are our reasons for coming to this view.

Further improvements for sexual violence and abuse survivors navigating the criminal justice system

09 March 2026

We welcome the Ministry of Justice's announcement regarding further measures aimed at improving the experience of survivors of sexual violence and abuse who choose to pursue a case through the criminal justice system.

Victims’ Code Consultation Sessions: For survivors of sexual violence and abuse

09 March 2026

RCEW will be responding to the Victims' Code Consultation, ensuring that our response is informed by survivors of sexual violence and abuse who have experience of the criminal justice system.

RCEW celebrate campaign wins with the introduction of the Courts and Tribunals Bill

02 March 2026

The government announced in late 2025 that they plan to make major reforms to the criminal courts, including removing the right to jury in some cases. The Courts and Tribunals Bill, if passed, will make these plans a reality.

RCEW welcomes Part 2 of Sir Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts

04 February 2026

Rape Crisis England & Wales comments on Sir Leveson's comprehensive review of the Criminal Courts.

HMICFRS accepts the super-complaint on delayed police investigations

29 January 2026

We’re pleased to share that the super-complaint has now been accepted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and is now being investigated.

Help us fight for criminal justice for survivors of sexual violence and abuse

26 January 2026

We’re urging supporters to show their solidarity with survivors of sexual violence and abuse, and donate through the Big Give. Every donation you give will be matched, meaning your impact will go twice as far.

Rape Crisis comments on free access to sentencing remarks

20 January 2026

Today’s announcement that judges’ sentencing remarks transcripts will be available for free to all victims in the Crown Court is very welcome. We now urge the government to go further and give survivors of sexual violence abuse free access to sexual offence trial transcripts, not just sentencing remarks.

Police super-complaint submitted in relation to severely delayed police investigations into sexual offences

16 December 2025

The super-complaint, submitted by Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC), Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ), Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) and Bindmans LLP, comes at a time of unprecedented delays and challenges across the criminal justice system, particularly in sexual offences cases.

CEO Ciara Bergman reflects on two years of leadership at RCEW

09 December 2025

Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, reflects on her two years of leading the charity.

Reforms to the Criminal Justice System

04 December 2025

Rape Crisis England & Wales believe that change is not only required, but urgent, when it comes to the experiences and treatment of rape and sexual abuse survivors, particularly when it comes to Crown Court backlogs.

‘Bad Experiences, Not Bad Character’ Campaign WIN

03 December 2025

JOINT PRESS RELEASE from End Violence Against Women Coalition, Rape Crisis England & Wales, Imkaan, Centre for Women’s Justice, Rights of Women. The government has announced today (Wednesday 3rd December) that they will be making changes in forthcoming legislation to restrict the use of so-called ‘victim bad character’ evidence.

Our new report finds survivors are retraumatised by the criminal justice system

17 November 2025

Rape Crisis England and Wales (RCEW) have published a new report, Living in Limbo, presenting new data, lived experience, and frontline insight on devastating impact of the Crown Court backlog on victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

Parents who sexually abuse any child will now automatically lose parental rights

10 October 2025

We welcome this new amendment, which at last places survivors' rights above those of their abusers by automatically restricting the parenting responsibility of those who sexually abuse children and commit rape.

Imagine a world without sexual violence

10 October 2025

It's vital that funding for specialist support services is protected and sustained, so that no survivor of sexual violence is left feeling alone, silenced, or without somewhere safe to turn.

Shocking Panaroma documentary sees Met officers dismiss rape survivors

02 October 2025

We are horrified by the behaviours shown in the Panorama programme, which revealed a culture of misogyny, racism and gratuitous violence within the central London police force.

Survivors could see improvement in wait times for court cases

02 October 2025

After sustained pressure from our team, the government has announced extra funding for an additional 1,250 Crown Court sitting days – but this alone won't solve the backlog crisis.

Backlog of sexual offence cases in Crown Court increases 40% in two years

29 September 2025

New Crown Court data published shows that once again, the backlog of cases is at an all-time high and continuing to rise.

Statement on the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts Part 1

09 July 2025

Read our statement welcoming the radical and wide-reaching recommendations to address the crisis in the Crown Court system.