New initiatives for sexual violence courts: Solace responds

21.09.2026 

The Prime Minister has announced the creation of specialist courts to handle cases of rape and other sexual offences across England and Wales over the next two years. 

Responding to the announcement, Nahar Choudhury, chief executive of Solace, said: “For too long, survivors’ trauma has been compounded by long waits and being forced to face their perpetrator in court. 

“These new measures, if applied thoroughly and consistently, will be a huge step forward. We are particularly pleased that survivors’ court contacts will receive trauma-informed training – an initiative from which many other agencies supporting sexual violence cases, such as the police, would also benefit. 

“It’s good to see the government making progress on its promise, made three years ago now, to halve violence against women and girls.”