UK Announces Specialist Assault Courts to Speed Up Justice

The UK government announced today the introduction of specialist assault courts across England and Wales, aiming to reduce delays and improve support for victims of serious sexual offences. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that every Crown Court will have at least one dedicated courtroom for such cases within the next two years. The measures include private entrances and waiting rooms for victims to shield them from defendants, a facility currently available upon request but dependent on availability. Court staff will receive trauma-informed training, and each survivor will be assigned a single point of contact. Trials will be given fixed dates starting from October, replacing the current floating list system to prevent further postponements. The initiative is estimated to cost around £23 million from the Ministry of Justice budget. Prime Minister Burnham said, "For too long, victims of assault and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system. Prosecution rates for assault remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice. This is not good enough." He added that the changes are long overdue and will rebalance the scales of justice.