AMID growing concerns over delays in the justice system the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath has urged the government to take action for victims of sexual assault and rape.

On November, Wednesday 13, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, called on the Government to deliver justice for victims of sexual assault and rape.

Speaking in Parliament, the Bath MP highlighted that less than three per cent of rape cases result in a charge, this is despite 71,227 rapes being recorded by police in 2024.

Mrs Hobhouse also drew attention to the shocking delays between an offender being charged and their case reaching completion in the Crown Court, with the most recent data suggesting that on average, adult rape survivors are waiting 417 days, with many waiting far longer.

She spoke about how painful this wait for justice is for victims, and her frustration that these issues have been raised for so long without meaningful progress being made. She asked the government what the barriers to change are.

In response, the Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman, agreed with the Bath MP on the importance of the issue and said that “we need investment, structural reform and modernisation”, including “the adoption of technology”.

She confirmed that the government is waiting for the second part of the Independent Review of The Criminal Courts by Sir Brian Leveson, which will inform “how we can drive efficiency and get swifter justice for all victims, but in particular those of serious sexual offences.”

Mrs Hobhouse said: “Victims of sexual assault deserve better. These shocking delays to justice are unacceptable and deeply damaging for survivors.

“The government must urgently tackle the barriers that are preventing change and ensure victims finally get the timely justice they deserve.”