Victims’ Rights Face Challenges in 2026 Amid Justice System Struggles
In 2026, while victims have gained more rights than ever, the process of accessing justice has become increasingly difficult.
Having endured persistent stalking for over two decades, I have personally experienced the frustration of being let down by the very system designed to ensure safety. This personal ordeal has significantly influenced both my personal life and professional endeavors.
Motivated by this experience, I have spent years advocating for victims’ rights, leading to significant milestones such as the enactment of the Victims and Prisoners Act. These hard-fought victories have been crucial in legally securing rights for victims.
However, as I assume my new role as Victims’ Commissioner, I am acutely aware that mere legal provisions are insufficient. While the law may guarantee access to justice and support, only an effectively functioning court system can truly deliver on these promises.
The conventional expectation is straightforward: one experiences a crime, reports it, and expects the system to take action promptly, fairly, and supportively. Yet, the reality in 2026 is starkly different. Today, being a victim means entering a limbo of uncertainty upon reporting a crime, exacerbating anxiety and trauma.
Despite assuming that as a victim, one would be central to the case, the overwhelming demand in the system often relegates victims to a passive role. Waiting for months without updates, victims find themselves in a state of perpetual uncertainty, with no closure in sight despite the valiant efforts of support services.
Sitting with victims facing trial dates as far out as 2030, the excruciating wait is not just about the delay but also the persistent uncertainty, postponed hearings, and the inability to move on from trauma due to the elongated process.
With the proposed Sentencing Bill aiming to further reduce jail time, victims enduring years of waiting for their day in court question whether they, instead of the offenders, are serving the sentence.
Consequently, many victims opt to walk away as they find it emotionally and physically unsustainable to endure the protracted wait. The steep price of justice, involving years of life on hold, becomes too hefty a burden to bear.
As the Victims’ Commissioner in London, I had previously cautioned about the consequences of years of neglect and underfunding on the justice system. The current situation reflects the dire repercussions of this neglect, with a backlog now approaching 80,000 cases – double the pre-pandemic levels, symbolizing 80,000 lives in limbo.
Numerous cases dating back to the previous decade are still pending trial, with individuals transitioning from childhood to adulthood and lives being irreversibly altered while awaiting their day in court. Without urgent intervention, projections suggest the backlog could surge to 125,000 cases by the end of the current Parliament term, marking a severe failure in duty.
Recognizing the enormity of the challenge, the status quo of ‘business as usual’ is deemed unsustainable. Following an evaluation by Sir Brian Leveson, it is evident that the court system is so deeply flawed that superficial adjustments will not suffice. Radical changes, including the potential adoption of judge-only trials to circumvent the gridlock, have been proposed by the government in response to this crisis.
While these proposals may challenge conventional practices and spark debates, the fundamental truth remains: the current court system subjects victims to an exhaustive endurance test, ultimately failing to serve its intended purpose. A system that forces a rape survivor to wait several years for justice is a system in name only.
The persistent delay is untenable, with each passing day adding to the queue of pending cases and prompting more victims to disengage, inadvertently enabling offenders to act with impunity. It is imperative to address this crisis promptly and decisively.
In the forthcoming months, discussions may center around legal precedents and procedural intricacies. However, my primary focus will be to ensure that the voices of victims are not drowned out amidst debates on tradition and process.
Every proposal will be scrutinized through the lens of whether it expedites effective justice for crime victims. The human toll of this crisis is immense, and if the journey to justice breaks the victim, the system has failed.
It is time to cease burdening victims with the impossible and instead establish a trustworthy system that operates effectively in practice, not just on paper.