英格兰和威尔士将设立强奸案专门法庭

Image source, Getty ImagesByPatrick JacksonPublished20 September 2026Specialist courts to handle cases of rape and other sexual offences will be introduced across England and Wales over the next two years, the prime minister has announced.

Each crown court will have at least one courtroom especially set up to hear such cases, while victims will be able to view proceedings remotely and give evidence from a separate room via video link.

Victims will also be provided with private entrances and waiting rooms to separate them from defendants, though it is understood this will be dependent on the architecture of each building.

Rape Crisis England and Wales said this was a "significant step forward" and addressed several reforms it had been requesting for many years.

"Taken together, they reflect the urgency of ensuring that courts are fit for purpose and properly meet the needs of victims and survivors, which is crucial to securing justice," said the charity's chief executive, Ciara Bergman.

Under the new measures, expected to cost around £23m from the Ministry of Justice's budget, court staff will be given "trauma-informed training" and a single person of contact will be assigned to each survivor.

From next month, trials will be given a fixed date rather than placed on floating lists in what Prime Minister Andy Burnham said was an effort to "rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first".

The government said the changes follow Labour MP Charlotte Nichols showing "immense strength and bravery" in speaking publicly about being raped and calling for changes to the justice system.

Nichols waived her automatic right to anonymity in March when she made a Commons speech and described having to wait more than 1,000 days to go to court.

Earlier this year, the government announced that rape victims would be given access to specialist legal advice throughout the criminal justice process.