In 2026, while victims have gained more rights, the path to justice has become increasingly challenging.
Having endured persistent stalking for two decades, I understand the frustration of being let down by the protective system. This personal experience has profoundly influenced my life and career.
My commitment to advocating for victims led me to dedicate years to amplifying their voices, resulting in significant changes such as the enactment of the Victims and Prisoners Act. These hard-fought victories solidified the rights of victims in legislation.
Assuming the role of Victims’ Commissioner, I acknowledge that rights outlined on paper are insufficient. While laws may guarantee access to justice and assistance, only an effective court system can truly provide it.
The common expectation is a simple process: report a crime, and the system intervenes promptly, fairly, and supportively. However, the reality in 2026 is startlingly different. Being a victim today means entering a prolonged waiting period once a crime is reported, intensifying anxiety and trauma.
Despite the assumption that victims are central to their cases, the overwhelmed system often relegates them to bystander status. Months pass without updates, and even though support services offer admirable assistance, they cannot substitute the absence of a court date.
I have witnessed victims facing trial dates scheduled as far out as 2030. The excruciating wait is not the only challenge victims face; the constant uncertainty, postponed hearings, and inability to heal from trauma due to prolonged processes exacerbate their suffering.
With the proposed Sentencing Bill aiming to further reduce jail time, victims enduring long waits for their day in court may feel as though they are serving a sentence themselves, rather than the offender.
Consequently, many victims choose to walk away as they struggle to endure the extended wait physically and emotionally. The heavy price of justice—years suspended in limbo—is too burdensome for many.
As the Victims’ Commissioner for London, I previously warned about the imminent breakdown of the system due to years of neglect and underfunding. The repercussions of this neglect are now evident, with the backlog of cases nearing 80,000—twice the pre-pandemic level—resulting in 80,000 lives placed on hold.
Numerous cases dating back to the previous decade remain unresolved, with individuals transitioning from childhood to adulthood while awaiting their day in court. Without intervention, projections indicate a backlog of 125,000 cases by the end of the current Parliament—a significant failure in duty.
The extensive nature of the challenge necessitates a departure from the status quo. Following an assessment of the court system by Sir Brian Leveson, it is evident that minor adjustments will not suffice. Addressing the funding crisis requires more than temporary solutions; fundamental changes are imperative.
In response, the government has suggested radical measures, including the potential use of judge-only trials to alleviate the gridlock. While these proposals challenge longstanding traditions and will provoke debates, the urgency of the situation cannot be ignored. A system that forces a rape survivor to wait several years for justice is fundamentally flawed.
The current situation is unsustainable, and every day of indecision contributes to a growing queue and more victims abandoning hope, enabling offenders to act with impunity. It is imperative to address this crisis promptly.
In the upcoming discussions on legal precedent and courtroom procedures, my role is to ensure that the victim’s perspective remains at the forefront during debates on tradition and process.
I will evaluate every proposal based on its ability to provide swift and effective justice for crime victims. The human toll of this crisis is significant, and if the journey to the courtroom breaks victims, then the system has failed.
It is crucial to stop placing unrealistic demands on victims and instead establish a trustworthy system that functions effectively in practice, not just in theory.