“Devastating” report reveals 64% of prosecutors and 66% of defense barristers refuse serious sexual assault cases, exacerbating backlog crisis

In a concerning revelation, a recent report from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has unveiled a deepening crisis in the legal system, as the majority of barristers express their reluctance to take on rape and serious sexual assault cases. 

David emphasised that the chronic underfunding and neglect spanning decades lie at the core of this issue. This crisis not only contradicts the standards upheld by a progressive society but also undermines the government’s struggling Rape Review. An increase in miscarriages of justice is likely to follow.

This article was first published in Solicitors Journal on 14 February 2024; to read the full article please click here.