To ask the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of sexual offence cases, currently in the court system, which have been delayed for more than two years; and (ii) the longest current delay.

At 1 September 2025, there were 361 live cases at court stage in the justice process, where the main offence was a sexual offence. Of these, in 216 cases, it had been over 2 years since the offence was initially reported, and, in the case with the longest period since the offence was reported, it had been 21 years 8 months.

In 48 cases, it had been over 2 years since the first court date after PPS decision to prosecute, and, in the case with the longest period since the first court date after PPS decision to prosecute, it had been 12 years 9 days.

Note:

1. Figures relate to cases brought on behalf of the PSNI, NCA, Harbour, Airport police and other Governmental bodies in Northern Ireland.

2. Figures include cases at Crown Court and at magistrates’ courts.

3. Figures relate to cases where the main offence is a sexual offence.

4. Cases in the court system has been interpreted as cases which have had a first court date after PPS decision to prosecute but which have not yet been completed.

5. Figures are derived from management information systems.

It is important these figures are seen in context. For example, for these cases, the median time from date offence was reported was 2 years 4 months. Similarly, the median time since the first court date after PPS decision to prosecute was 7 months 10 days. There may be a number of reasons that a case may have been unable to be completed, such as where the defendant has health related issues or where a defendant is already in custody in another jurisdiction. The Department of Justice is working with criminal justice partners to deliver a Speeding Up Justice programme, which seeks to reform the handling of cases, getting the most serious cases to court more quickly, and dealing with cases effectively and proportionately.