England’s Prosecutor Highlights Justice Delays and Launches Victim Support Program

Stephen Parkinson prioritizes reducing court backlogs and improving support for victims of rape and sexual offences as cases face years-long delays.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is addressing a backlog of rape and sexual offence cases, with victims waiting an average of 710 days for case resolution.
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson called the delays 'totally unacceptable' and linked them to a growing number of victims withdrawing from prosecutions.
A new CPS initiative includes hiring 40 victim liaison officers to provide survivors with a single point of contact and coordinate support throughout the legal process.
The program aims to improve communication and empathy from prosecutors, with measures like pre-trial meetings and revised communication practices to better address victims' needs.
While the initiative has been welcomed as a positive step, critics note it may not sufficiently address the systemic backlog, which could reach 80,000 cases by March 2025.