Labour MPs are pushing for specialist sexual offences courts as part of a wider attempt to disrupt government plans to scale back jury trials in England and Wales.
The MPs have tabled amendments to the courts bill that would create dedicated courts for sexual offence cases and set fixed dates for trials. Supporters of the proposal say the change could help reduce delays in the system while focusing on a part of the backlog that they believe can be managed more effectively through specialist handling.
The move comes as ministers press ahead with plans to limit the number of cases that can go before a jury. The government argues that the reform is needed to tackle severe court delays and clear the backlog in the criminal justice system.
Those behind the amendment are seeking to block the broader approach, which would make thousands of cases potentially ineligible for jury trial. At the same time, they argue that specialist sexual offences courts alone could address a significant part of the problem without the wider changes ministers want.
The proposal reflects an ongoing dispute over how best to deal with the courts backlog while preserving the role of jury trials. Ministers have presented their approach as a necessary response to congestion in the courts, while Labour MPs backing the amendments are looking for a more targeted alternative.
By focusing on sexual offences cases, the MPs hope to create a streamlined process for one of the most sensitive and difficult areas of the criminal courts. The idea is that fixed trial dates and specialist handling could improve the speed and management of cases without requiring the broader reduction in jury access set out by the government.
The amendments are part of a larger battle over the courts bill, with both sides seeking to shape how England and Wales respond to the pressure of long-running delays. The outcome will determine not only the future of jury trials for many cases, but also whether specialist sexual offences courts become part of the system.
