England and Wales announce specialist courtrooms for serious sexual-offense cases
The government said every crown court in England and Wales will have a specialist room for rape and serious sexual-offense cases within two years.
The announced program will fund private entrances and waiting areas, facilities for recording evidence in advance, and remote sentencing observation. Trials involving rape and serious sexual offenses will also receive fixed dates rather than being placed on lists that can move at short notice.
The government also announced specialized training for court staff, a victim-contact pilot program and additional survivor-support funding.