IF someone is raped tonight, they could face waiting years for their attacker to be hauled into court.
That is the grim reality of our criminal justice system today. It is an invisible emergency.
These delays leave victims unable to try to start rebuilding their lives.
It should come as no surprise that many drop out before their cases make it to court.
That is exactly what the accused want – with more and more defendants sitting tight, hoping to avoid justice.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
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Last year, 11,000 cases were dropped because victims felt they could not go through with it.
That’s thousands of lives left on hold, with victims not getting justice and many offenders going unpunished – left on our streets where they could do more harm, rather than being sent to prison where they belong.
If things carry on as they are, in the next couple of years, there could be 100,000 criminal cases waiting to be heard. That is a staggering number.
Victims will wait longer and longer for justice. And more and more criminals will get off scot-free.
It will lead to a total collapse of confidence in the courts.
This Government will not let that happen.
That is why we asked one of the country’s top former judges, Sir Brian Leveson, to look at what is going wrong and how we can fix it.
With his years of experience on the bench, he has come up with a blueprint to speed up the system.
In Parliament today, I will set out the reforms needed to deliver the faster justice victims deserve.
It’s going to take bold ideas. Jury trials will always stay at the heart of British justice.
But let’s be honest, only 3 percent of trials ever go in front of a jury – because Magistrates have done the bulk of criminal work for centuries.
Change is coming to our courts.
I’m clear that I stand on the side of victims, not traditions.
As part of our Plan for Change, we will get justice moving again for those who need it most.
