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Burnham Announces £23m Specialist Rape Courtrooms for England

By Drooid · Sep 21, 2026, 1:59 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced specialist rape courtrooms for England and Wales.
The Ministry of Justice will fund a dedicated courtroom in Crown Courts within two years.
Courts will add private entrances and waiting rooms to keep survivors separate from defendants.
Court staff will receive trauma-informed training for rape and sexual offence cases.
Commissioner Claire Waxman said the £23 million programme reflects a backlog exceeding 2021, citing a 1,088-day wait.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced specialist rape courtrooms for England and Wales.
The Ministry of Justice will fund a dedicated courtroom in Crown Courts within two years.
Courts will add private entrances and waiting rooms to keep survivors separate from defendants.
Court staff will receive trauma-informed training for rape and sexual offence cases.
Commissioner Claire Waxman said the £23 million programme reflects a backlog exceeding 2021, citing a 1,088-day wait.