Nearly 7,000 child sexual abuse cases delayed in courts, new figures show

Nearly 7,000 child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales are currently stuck in the court system, according to new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data shared with the NSPCC. The number of open cases rose to 6,989 in 2024-25 — a 9% increase on the previous year — prompting renewed calls for government action to address delays.

The figures show that victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation are waiting an average of 295 days, or around ten months, for cases to progress from charge to completion in the Crown Court. For cases involving the rape of a child aged 13 to 15, average waits rise to approximately 18 months.

Childline has reported that young people are increasingly disclosing how long delays are affecting their mental health, with some describing worsening depression, suicidal thoughts and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. One 17-year-old told the service that the prolonged process had prevented her from focusing on school and friendships, while a 14-year-old said she felt “stuck” while waiting for her case to progress.

The NSPCC has urged the government and criminal justice agencies to fast-track all open child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, particularly those involving victims under 16. It is also calling for improved access to therapeutic support for children and young people affected by abuse.

The data was released as Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones MP visited the charity’s Letting the Future In (LTFI) service in Leeds, which provides specialist therapeutic support for children aged four to 17. During the visit, practitioners and survivors highlighted the impact of long court delays and the importance of consistent, specialist support.

While the backlog remains high, the MoJ figures also show a 14% rise in the number of child sexual abuse and exploitation cases completed by the courts in 2024-25, suggesting more children may be coming forward and that some progress is being made in throughput.

However, access to specialist services continues to be a concern. According to a 2024 report from the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse, more than 55,000 children and adults affected by childhood sexual abuse in England and Wales are on waiting lists for support. The NSPCC is calling for increased investment to ensure children can receive timely help, warning that delays to both justice and support can affect victims’ mental health, education and family relationships.

The charity has also urged the government to review the Young Witness Initiative Protocol — which allows for expedited proceedings for witnesses under ten — and consider extending it to victims under 16 in cases of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Maria Neophytou, Director of Strategy and Knowledge at NSPCC, said no one should have to face ‘agonisingly long waits’ for their case to go to court and reach a resolution.

“Not only do these waits cause significant anxiety and worry for children who have already experienced serious trauma, but they can also delay young victims from being able to access the support they need to start to recover from abuse.

“We want the government to help ensure more young witnesses’ cases are going through the courts by using their upcoming response to the Leveson Inquiry to set out urgent action to tackle the remaining backlog and reduce delays for child victims.

“Too many children still can’t access the support they need to rebuild their lives following sexual abuse, so we are also urging the government to invest in therapeutic support for children and place a duty on local agencies to commission specialist support on local agencies through the Victims and Courts Bill.”