Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Victims of Crime: Access to Justice

Wednesday 14 October 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Attorney General announced the national roll-out of the CPS victim transformation programme, including a universal service for all victims and an enhanced service for domestic abuse survivors.
  • A constituent from Guildford experienced repeated delays in a domestic abuse prosecution due to the CPS failing to secure a barrister and a trial collapsing after eight days.
  • The Attorney General is working with the CPS to ensure victims of domestic abuse have a dedicated victim liaison officer and are offered pre-trial meetings in three CPS areas.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Zöe Franklin
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The question arises from concerns about the effectiveness of the CPS in providing justice for crime victims, specifically focusing on the need for a comprehensive service for all victims.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in ensuring access to justice for victims of crime?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

Last month, I announced the national roll-out of the CPS victim transformation programme, including a universal service for all victims, and an enhanced service for domestic abuse survivors; an enhanced service is already offered to victims of rape. Under the enhanced service, every domestic abuse victim will have a dedicated victim liaison officer, who will remain a point of contact from charge through to trial.

Answered
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Q2 Zöe Franklin
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

A constituent from Guildford has faced repeated delays in a domestic abuse prosecution due to the CPS's failure to secure a barrister and a trial collapsing after eight days. The constituent now faces a wait for justice until June 2028, with a risk of crucial evidence being lost. This situation undermines victims' confidence in the criminal justice system.

Question

I thank the Attorney General for her answer, but a constituent from Guildford has endured repeated delays to a domestic abuse prosecution. Causes included the Crown Prosecution Service failing to secure a barrister, and a trial collapsing after eight days as the proceedings had overrun and jurors could no longer continue, due to other commitments. She now faces the prospect of waiting for justice until June 2028, almost five years after her husband's arrest. By then, there is a real risk that crucial evidence will have been lost. Does the Attorney General recognise that administrative failures like these undermine victims' confidence in the criminal justice system? What accountability is there when CPS failings cause such devastating delays?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

I am very sorry to hear of the hon. Member's constituent's experience. If she wants to provide details of the case, I will raise it directly with the CPS. She is absolutely right that victims deserve timely justice. Delays can have a profound impact on victims. That is why the Government are taking action to deliver a faster and more effective justice system, including investing at record levels in maximising court capacity. We have invested an additional £96 million in the CPS, increasing its funding by more than 10% between 2026 and 2029. That means more prosecutors being able to make charging decisions, prepare cases for court and bring offenders to justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Accountability measures for CPS failings causing delays

How: Delays Can Have A Profound Impact On Victims

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Q3 Markus Campbell-Savours
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Cumbria experiences higher rates of domestic abuse than the England average, and victims often feel traumatised by the process of securing justice, raising concerns about the CPS's responsiveness to their needs.

Question

With Cumbria experiencing rates of domestic abuse significantly higher than the England average, and with victims often feeling traumatised by the process of securing justice, how is the Attorney General working with the CPS to ensure victims' voices are not ignored by the justice system?

Answer from Ellie Reeves

Under the enhanced service that victims of domestic abuse will now be offered by the CPS, they will have a dedicated victim liaison officer supporting them from charge through to trial. Also, in three CPS areas, we are piloting offering victims of domestic abuse in the Crown court a pre-trial meeting with the prosecution team, to support them on their journey to justice.

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