Victims in 2026 have gained more rights, yet facing challenges in seeking justice has become increasingly difficult.
Having endured persistent stalking for two decades, I have personally felt the frustration of being let down by the supposed protective system. This personal experience has influenced my life and career path.
Driven by the desire to amplify the voices of victims, I dedicated years to advocating for change, leading to significant milestones like the enactment of the Victims and Prisoners Act. These hard-fought triumphs solidified the legal rights of victims.
Transitioning into the role of Victims’ Commissioner, I recognize that mere rights on paper are insufficient. While a law may pledge access to justice and assistance, it is only through an operational court system that these promises can be fulfilled.
The common expectation is straightforward: a crime is committed, it is reported, and the system intervenes swiftly, fairly, and supportively. However, the reality in 2026 is a stark contrast. Reporting a crime now often means entering a prolonged waiting period, intensifying anxiety and trauma.
Despite being the primary figure in a case, victims frequently find themselves sidelined in a system overwhelmed by demands. Months pass without updates, and while support services provide commendable aid, they cannot replace the absence of a court date.
I have witnessed victims confronted with trial dates scheduled as far out as 2030. The excruciating wait is not the only burden victims face; the constant uncertainty, postponed hearings, and inability to heal from trauma due to the prolonged process compound their suffering.
As the Sentencing Bill aims to reduce jail time further, victims enduring years of waiting for justice may question if they are inadvertently serving the punishment instead of the offender.
The inevitable outcome is heart-wrenching: victims walk away as the toll of waiting becomes unbearable. The heavy price of justice – years suspended in limbo – proves too costly for many.
In my capacity as London’s Victims’ Commissioner, I previously warned of the repercussions of years of neglect and underfunding that have strained the system to its breaking point. Presently, the backlog has soared to nearly 80,000 cases, double the pre-pandemic levels, leaving 80,000 lives in limbo.
Numerous unresolved cases from the past decade linger, impacting individuals who have aged and lives that have been irreversibly altered while awaiting their day in court. Without intervention, projections indicate a backlog of 125,000 cases by the end of this Parliament – a severe failure in duty.
The extensive nature of this challenge necessitates a departure from ‘business as usual’. Sir Brian Leveson’s assessment of the court system underscores that superficial changes will not suffice; the system is fundamentally broken, requiring more than just financial injections to resolve.
In response, the government has proposed drastic measures, including the potential implementation of judge-only trials to circumvent the gridlock. These propositions challenge longstanding norms and will provoke vigorous debates, but the fundamental truth remains: a system that compels a rape survivor to wait years for justice is fundamentally flawed.
The current situation is unsustainable, with each day of hesitation resulting in a lengthening queue and more victims abandoning hope, allowing offenders to act with impunity. It is imperative to address this crisis promptly.
In the upcoming months, discussions will revolve around legal precedents and procedural intricacies. My duty is to ensure that amidst these significant debates, the voices of victims remain heard.
Every proposal will be scrutinized based on its ability to deliver swift and efficacious justice to crime victims. The human toll of this crisis is immense; a system that shatters the victim before reaching the courtroom signifies a profound failure.
It is time to relieve victims from impossible burdens and establish a trustworthy system that operates effectively in practice, not just in theory.