Refuge responds to Victims’ Commissioner’s report on Crown Court delays

In response to the Victims’ Commissioner’s report on Crown Court delays, Julia Dwyer, Head of Services at Refuge, said:

“Today’s report by Baroness Newlove is a devastating, yet unsurprising, reflection of the reality many survivors of domestic abuse face. As revealed in the report, Crown Court backlogs are at record levels, and this is having serious consequences for survivors who are waiting for justice.

“The psychological impact of domestic abuse cannot be underestimated. It is incredibly common for survivors to approach us with existing mental health difficulties, often resulting from domestic abuse, only for these to be exacerbated by glaring flaws in the justice system. In turn, this can interfere with the survivor’s personal life and employment, creating a vicious cycle.

“Court delays are deeply traumatic for many survivors, and women often tell Refuge they feel let down by the very system that is supposed to protect them. Some even tell us they have given up hope, or that the delay to their perpetrator’s trial is hindering them from processing the abuse they have endured.

“Many survivors accessing Refuge’s services are now seeing their trial dates set for 2026, causing enormous distress while increasing the likelihood that they will withdraw from proceedings. Even when trial dates are set, courts often move these dates at short notice, to the detriment of survivors’ wellbeing.

“Survivors deserve better. The longer they are made to wait for their perpetrator to be held accountable, the greater the trauma they endure. We urgently need significant reform of the justice system to improve outcomes for survivors, along with improved funding for specialist domestic abuse services to ensure we can support all survivors facing court delays.”