Backlog of child sex legal cases soared in pandemic

THE backlog of child sex abuse cases surged by 70 per cent during the pandemic, Ministry of Justice figures revealed.

The number of outstanding cases increased from almost 2,700 to over 4,560 between 2020 and 2021, according to a Freedom of Information request from the NSPCC.

While the spike is explained by Covid lockdown-related court closures, it comes against a backdrop of reduced funding over the years and the permanent closure of some courts, the children’s charity said.

It also wants assurances that cash will be spent tackling the backlog and that the Crown Prosecution Service will publish updated guidance on therapy available for victims and witnesses before a trial.

Current legal guidance is causing “confusion” about what can be disclosed and discussed during therapy, given the need to avoid tainting evidence, the NSPCC said.

Its head of policy and public affairs, Anna Edmundson, said: “Waiting to go to court can be a distressing experience for young witnesses and victims of child sexual abuse.

“And increasingly long delays without the necessary therapeutic support hampers recovery.

“The Government needs to urgently tackle the backlog that has ballooned during the pandemic through investing in the system and prioritising cases involving young witnesses and victims.

“At the same time, we want the Crown Prosecution Service to finalise guidance to provide clarity on the level of support available before a child sexual abuse case comes to trial.

“Failure to do so is likely to have a knock-on that will be felt by witnesses and victims for many years.”