Specialist courts announcement
The Law Commission welcomes today’s announcement by the Ministry of Justice on the introduction of specialist rape and serious sexual offences courts. In our 2025 report Evidence in Sexual Offences Prosecutions, we recommended a specialist sexual offences court operating within the existing court estate, supported by specialist listing practices, trained personnel, appropriate technology for the giving of evidence and specialist support for participants. The Government’s plans reflect many of the key features of that recommendation.