Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 17 February 2025.
Sarah Champion
Chair, International Development Committee, Chair, International Development Committee
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 24854 on Sexual Offences: Crown Court, how many people have applied to the one-year pilot scheme.
Sarah Champion
Chair, International Development Committee, Chair, International Development Committee
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 24854 on Sexual Offences: Crown Court, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of displaying information of the one-year pilot scheme in courts.
Sarah Champion
Chair, International Development Committee, Chair, International Development Committee
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 24854 on Sexual Offences: Crown Court, whether judges have been informed of the one-year pilot scheme.
Sarah Sackman
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice
Since 28 May 2024, the Ministry of Justice has been running a one-year pilot for victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases were heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks free of charge.
The judiciary were informed of the pilot before launch. Requests for court transcripts are considered by judges and the release of transcripts is ultimately a judicial decision in each individual case. We will continue to engage the judiciary as we assess the pilot’s impacts and determine next steps.
We recognise the importance of ensuring that eligible victims know about the pilot and how to apply. We have provided the Witness Service, whose role is to support victims and witnesses at court, with an information sheet on the pilot to distribute to any eligible victims.
On 10 February 2025, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service had received c.350 applications under the pilot.
Yes2 people think so
No1 person thinks not
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