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On Thursday 28 March, the Ministry of Justice released its quarterly criminal court statistics for October - December 2024, and data shows that rape and sexual offences in the Crown Court's backlog have reached yet another record high.
In March 2023 we released our Breaking Point report on the re-traumatisation of rape and sexual abuse survivors in the Crown Court backlog. Since then, the situation has become progressively worse for survivors.
For the first time, the Ministry of Justice has also published data on child rape cases.
The latest statistics reveal that:
- The number of sexual offences waiting to go to the Crown Court is now 11,981 – another record high. This number has increased by 41% in 2 years.
- There are now 3,489 adult rape cases waiting to go to trial – an increase of 70% in 2 years.
- There are 1,646 child rape cases waiting to go to trial. This number has been growing every quarter since Q2 in 2019. Since 2022, the figure has increased by 30%.
- Survivors in child rape cases are waiting, on average, 439 days for their case to be completed after being receive by the Court. We have seen many of examples of cases taking much longer.
Ciara Bergman, CEO, at Rape Crisis England & Wales said:
"The latest crown court statistics showing yet another record high in the number of sexual offence cases waiting to go to trial are appalling. Nobody who has been through the trauma of rape or any form of sexual assault should have to face these delays.
Our 2023 Breaking Point report clearly outlined the immense and devastating impact that these delays have on victims and survivors.
That the backlog has reached yet another record high is disastrous for those seeking justice and demonstrates the need for urgent reform.
The Government must urgently implement the recommendations set out in Breaking Point, including the fast tracking of rape cases, specialist sexual offence courts where all staff receive trauma-informed training, and long-term grants for the specialist sexual violence and abuse services that support survivors through the system, including whilst they wait, and afterwards”.