Our aim is a system that works fairly not only for victims of crime, and the rights of the accused, but also for the criminal barristers relied upon to prosecute and defend cases of all levels of seriousness and complexity.

Chair and Vice Chair, Message.

“Baroness Helen Newlove’s achievements in the role have been immense.”

Riel Karmy-Jones KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and Andrew Thomas KC, Vice Chair of the Criminal Bar Association.

www.gov.uk/government/n....

We believe that a vibrant, independent Criminal Bar is essential to ensuring that justice continues to be done and seen to be done.

Together with the Victims’ Commissioner, we must ensure fair trials remain at the heart of all we do. We will continue to campaign for the much needed investment to ensure that cases can be dealt with diligently and in a timely fashion.

As criminal justice professionals, we share the Commissioner's interest in improving our Criminal Justice System to protect the interests of victims of crime, their families and witnesses, whilst defending the rights of the accused.

The Criminal Bar will continue to support her as Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales and we look forward to furthering our constructive engagement.

The last time so many cases were disposed of was in 2017.

The number of receipts within the Crown Court for cases of rape continues to increase. There were 911 cases in the first quarter of 2025. There were 3,023 in 2024.