Delays in the court system are leading to survivors of sexual violence experiencing suicidal thoughts and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a new report has found.
The Criminal Bar Association says the backlog of criminal cases is on track to reach 80,000 by March 2025.
Survivors of rape and sexual violence are among those waiting the longest for their cases to be heard. On average, it takes them two years to get to trial from the moment of charge, according to the Criminal Bar Association.
Exactly half of the cases analysed by the charity Victim Support for their new report waited three years or more from the point of reporting to the police to the first court date.
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The delay is prolonging distress for survivors, some of who have made suicide attempts whilst going through the court process.
But even once given a trial date, there’s no guarantee it will go ahead, with survivors telling Sky News often they would only find out the day before – or even on the day – that it was not going to be heard.
The charity found 47% of cases it assessed were adjourned, often with no explanation.
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‘I ended up crying for four solid hours’
Emmy Hemmins had to wait five years and 11 months for her case to go to trial.
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It was postponed eight times. She says the wait was traumatic.
“It was agony,” Ms Hemmins told Sky News. “It just got to the point where I kept saying to my court therapist, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’ – and she kept saying, ‘give it a week and see if you still feel that way’.
“Leading up to each trial date, I’d be very anxious, constantly feeling nauseous, I wouldn’t have an appetite, I wouldn’t be sleeping very well and sometimes multiple times a day, I’d have panic attacks.”
The build-up of going back and forth to court took its toll on Ms Hemmins physically and mentally.
“On the days I thought it was going ahead, I’d really gotten ready for it, tried to hype myself up.
“I had all this adrenaline going, and then because it wouldn’t happen, it didn’t have anywhere else to go but turn into an anxiety attack, and I would just cry.
“I think it was the fifth time it was postponed – three days later, I had to go to the dentist and I ended up crying for a solid four hours without stopping because a few days beforehand it was meant to happen, but it didn’t.
“That was probably the longest I’ve ever cried. It was non-stop.”
Ms Hemmins credits her “patient and understanding” mother for the reason she didn’t give up on her case.
Her mother, the officer in her case and her court therapist stuck by her: “They always made the time to try and be positive for me because I felt like I couldn’t.”
Many survivors do walk away from prosecutions because of the delays.
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The delays to Ms Hemmins’ case, prompted the judge to “conduct a proper review of the ‘priority’ listing arrangements” at the local Crown Court.
The Ministry of Justice told us: “The government inherited a crisis in our criminal justice system and a Crown Court backlog at record levels.
“We are committed to addressing the backlog, with a particular focus on how we prioritise fast-tracking rape cases.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
Across five decades in three different countries and involving as many as 130 boys and young men in the UK and Africa, John Smyth QC is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks, permanently marking their lives.
The report concluded he might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported it to police a decade ago.
In a resignation letter Justin Welby said: “Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign.
“The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuse of John Smyth.
“When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow.
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024.
“The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly 12 years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.
“In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.”
Smyth died aged 75 in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and so was “never brought to justice for the abuse”, the review said.
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Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match Of The Day at the end of the season, the BBC has confirmed.
The 63-year-old will continue to host coverage of the FA Cup in 2025/26 and the World Cup in 2026, the broadcaster announced.
Lineker will continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast while his The Rest Is Football podcast, which features BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, will now be hosted on BBC Sounds.
The former England footballer said: “I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen.”
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Gary is a world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.
“After 25 seasons Gary is stepping down from MOTD. We want to thank him for everything he has done for the show, which continues to attract millions of viewers each week.
“He’ll be hugely missed on the show but we’re so happy he is staying with the BBC to present live football.”
Lineker has hosted the Premier League highlights show since 1999, after his predecessor Des Lynam moved to ITV.
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He is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which produces popular shows such as The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Entertainment, as well as his own football podcast.
The company, founded in 2014, claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast firm and said in September its podcasts had been downloaded more than 380 million times so far this year.
Lineker has been the BBC’s highest-paid star in recent years for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year, as well as coverage of major tournaments including World Cups and European Championships.
It is unclear who will take over from Lineker on Match Of The Day.
Former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Jermaine Jenas had at one point been considered to be his natural successor but he was sacked from the BBC in August over claims of inappropriate behaviour.
Lineker enjoyed a successful career as a striker, winning 80 caps for England, before moving into broadcasting.
The Queen will return to public duties today after her chest infection but will miss the Gladiator II premiere on Wednesday to aid her recovery, a royal source has said.
The 77-year-old was forced to withdraw from her duties last week and missed the weekend’s Remembrance Day commemoration events.
Queen Camilla will attend a Booker Prize reception at Clarence House on Tuesday, but will meet guests for a shorter period than planned.
She will also still attend a Palace reception with the King on Wednesday to celebrate the TV and film industry, but she is not expected to be present for the entirety of the engagement.
The changes to her diary are understood to have been made to protect and prioritise her continued recovery, with royal doctors keen to prevent any setback from a seasonal illness.
It comes after Prince William said 2024 has been “brutal” and “probably the hardest year in my life”, due to his wife and father’s cancer diagnoses.
Speaking on a tour of Cape Town this week, he said: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful.
“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.”
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Discussing how his relatives have coped with their health struggles, he added: “I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.
“But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”