The UK government has announced plans to expand specialist courts for rape cases across England and Wales, saying new funding will enable measures designed to lessen the stress on complainants during trials.
Under the proposals, victims will be able to view court proceedings remotely and give evidence from a separate room using a video link, the government said. Officials said the changes are intended to reduce the need for complainants to face defendants directly in court.
Ministers described the measures as part of efforts to make the court process less distressing for those who report sexual offences and to support their participation in prosecutions. The announcement did not provide a detailed timetable for the national rollout or full operational arrangements for the new courts.
It is not yet clear how the specialist courts will be staffed or how cases will be allocated to them, and the government has been asked to set out further operational guidance. The move applies to England and Wales and does not alter the separate legal arrangements in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Campaigners and legal professionals will be watching for more detail on how the funding will be used and how the remote testimony measures will be implemented while maintaining fair trial rights for defendants. The government said it will publish further information on delivery and oversight in due course.