SPECIALIST courts to deal with rape and sexual offences will be rolled out across England and Wales, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced yesterday.

Under the plans, every crown court will have at least one dedicated courtroom for such cases within two years, with victims offered a private entrance and waiting room, trauma-informed staff training and a single point of contact assigned to each survivor.

The £23 million package will also see trials given fixed dates from October rather than floating lists.

The government credited Labour MP Charlotte Nichols’s “immense strength and bravery” in speaking publicly about being raped and calling for reform.

In March, Ms Nichols waived her automatic right to anonymity in a powerful Commons speech during which she lamented having to wait more than 1,000 days to go to court.

She said the changes promised were a “hugely important milestone” which would help improve the experience of those who are “all too often retraumatised by seeking justice.”

The measures form part of Labour’s manifesto pledge to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

Mr Burnham said: “For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system.

“Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice.

“This is not good enough. That’s why we are making major changes to rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first.”

The PM said that the changes are “long overdue and will make a significant difference,” but added that focusing on prosecution alone will not be enough.

“So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place,” he said.

Rape Crisis England and Wales welcomed the measures as a “significant step forward for our justice system” that would bring into force a number of reforms the organisation has been calling for over many years.

Chief executive Ciara Bergman said: “Taken together, they reflect the urgency of ensuring that courts are fit for purpose and properly meet the needs of victims and survivors, which is crucial to securing justice.”