(Image: Gary Walsh)
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed a major court overhaul after years of campaigning to improve rape victims’ experience of the justice system.
Specialist courts will prioritise rape and serious sexual offence cases in every Crown Court in England and Wales over the next two years.
The reforms include private entrances and waiting rooms for victims, fixed trial dates instead of “floating lists” and trauma-informed training for court staff.
Ms Allen, who has consistently lobbied for improvements to the criminal justice system since her election in 2021, said: "I wholeheartedly welcome these long-overdue reforms, which I have championed relentlessly since first being elected as Commissioner.
"For too long, victims have paid the price for a criminal justice system beset by delays, adjournments and inefficiency.
"Time and again, I have heard first-hand from survivors whose lives have been put on hold while they wait for justice, with devastating consequences for their wellbeing, relationships, finances and mental health.
"These changes mark a significant step towards a justice system that finally recognises the unique challenges faced by victims of rape and serious sexual offences."
Ms Allen has written to senior figures including the late Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove, Lord Justice Edis and Sir Brian Leveson, calling for specialist courts and other victim-focused reforms.
The correspondence included a “top ten wish list” shaped by three Victims’ Champions, research and feedback from victims in County Durham and Darlington.
The list called for specialist RASSO courts, a review of court listings and mandatory design standards, including separate entrances for victims and defendants.
Writing to Lord Justice Edis about the growing sexual-offence backlog, Ms Allen called for an “ambitious programme” to cut delays by fast-tracking cases through specialist courts and ending “floater trials”.
She also told Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of the Criminal Courts that dedicated courts could cut delays and reduce the emotional toll on survivors.
Ms Allen said: "By putting survivors’ needs at the heart of the process, we can give more victims the confidence to come forward and ensure those already seeking justice receive the support they need to cope, recover and rebuild their lives.
"Every victim deserves to be heard, believed and treated with dignity.
"We must never lose sight of the immense courage it takes to report these crimes.
"Our justice system should be built around that courage, delivering timely justice, keeping victims informed and making them central to every decision.
"That is the standard victims deserve, and it is the standard we must continue striving to achieve."
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The reforms form part of a wider effort to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
Ms Allen’s Police, Crime and Justice Plan for County Durham and Darlington pledges a “first-class service” for every victim of crime.
It promises every victim a high-quality service throughout the criminal justice process and consistent protection of their rights under the Victims’ Code.