Justice delayed: Human toll of gruelling Crown Court delays on victims revealed in new Victims’ Commissioner report

• New Victims’ Commissioner report details the harmful impact of lengthy court delays on victims’ mental health, everyday lives and finances (embargoed copy attached below).
• Nearly half (48%) of victims have had their Crown Court trial dates rescheduled, with most facing repeated delays before their trial takes place.
• Baroness Newlove: “I fear this will drive some victims to give up on seeking justice altogether—a second injustice compounding the first.”

New research from the Victims’ Commissioner exposes the devastating toll court backlogs are taking on victims, victim services, and the wider criminal justice system.

Many victims of the most serious offences—including rape, murder, robbery and serious physical assaults are facing years-long waits for justice in the Crown Courts. The report reveals how victims are struggling to cope with the lengthy delays, with many unable to work or resume their everyday lives.

The frequent adjournments and extended wait times cause victims immense stress, severely impacting their mental and physical health. For some, the strain has led to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drug and alcohol use, and even self-harm, as they navigate the ongoing uncertainty and trauma.

These delays intensify victims’ trauma, disrupting their lives, straining relationships, and threatening employment and financial stability. Support staff working with younger victims reported examples of their education and future prospects being interrupted at critical stages—setbacks that could affect them for life.

Baroness Newlove’s report comes as Crown Court backlogs in England and Wales hit record levels. Official government data shows that by the end of September 2024, there were 73,105 outstanding cases—the highest on record. In response to this crisis, the government announced an independent review of the criminal courts in December 2024, led by Sir Brian Leveson.

The report also found that many victims arrive at court prepared to give evidence, only to be turned away at the last minute. The Victims’ Commissioner can reveal that nearly 48% of victims with a scheduled trial date had it changed at least once, often repeatedly, before finally going ahead.

Exclusive analysis of court service data* also shows that an increasing number of trials are being postponed on the day—not just once or twice, but three times or more. According to the data, the number of completed Crown Court cases where the trial was rescheduled more than three times on the very day of the trial has quadrupled, surging from 20 in 2019/20 to 87 in 2023/24. Given the current unprecedented number of outstanding cases in the Crown Court system, it is expected that this figure has not yet reached its peak.

Mila**, one of the victims who shared their experiences, said:

“I’m 30 now and I was 25 when I reported. I feel like I can’t remember the second half of my 20s. The only memory I’ve got of the second half of my 20s is going through the court system because that’s all you can think about and your life gets put on hold… literally it’s like I woke up one day and I’d lost five years of my life.”

More than a third (36%) of victims stated they were not given an explanation when their trial date was changed. Poor communication was cited as making an already difficult process even harder, leaving victims unaware of the full extent of delays, uncertain about what to expect, and often notified of adjournments at the last minute. This highlights the need for a dedicated point of contact to provide clear updates and consistent support throughout the court process—something the Victims’ Commissioner urges the Ministry of Justice to explore.

Describing the lack of information, Mila, continued:

“Not being told stuff until the last minute is just horrendous because they don’t realise that is your life, for weeks leading up to it, and it’s particularly annoying when you know that that information could have been available to you sooner. If something happens last minute, that’s just rubbish, you know, and nobody can help that. But when you know that something’s been simmering for a few weeks, and nobody’s given you the heads up. That’s horrible.”

Delays were found not only to increase the risk of victims withdrawing from the process but also to erode public confidence in the justice system. Professional victim support services play a crucial role in helping victims to cope and stay engaged with the criminal justice process long-term. However, these organisations are also feeling the impacts of the court crisis. Victims are remaining in the system longer, creating unmanageable caseloads that jeopardise the quality and consistency of support, contributing to high levels of stress, burnout and high staff turnover. Directors of services have described the pressures as “unsustainable”.

The report calls for emergency funding to victim support services to help them manage the increased caseloads arising from the court backlog crisis. These services face cuts to their government funding, announced in late 2024. At the time, the Victims’ Commissioner called on the government to reverse these planned cuts to victim services and exempt these charities from increased National Insurance contributions. The findings of this report only strengthen those calls.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

“For far too many victims, justice now feels out of reach. For those affected by the most serious crimes, reporting has become a years-long ordeal. These delays don’t just prolong the process—they deepen the trauma. Victims’ lives are put on hold, relationships are strained, and their jobs and prospects are threatened. Justice should never come at such a cost.

The least victims deserve is an explanation, but communication can be poor and inconsistent, often delivered at the eleventh hour. Some victims told us they only learn about adjournments at the last minute—often without being told why, or when the trial might next take place.

The crisis in our Crown Courts is also placing immense pressure on our vital victim services, already stretched thin with growing waiting lists. These services are crucial to helping victims cope, recover, and stay engaged throughout the court process. But with funding cuts looming, we face the very real threat of reduced support. I fear this will drive some victims to give up on seeking justice altogether—a second injustice compounding the first.”

ENDS

• The report can be accessed and downloaded here.