Offences against Children: Criminal Proceedings
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make it her policy for courts to prioritise cases involving grooming.
Answered by Sarah Sackman
The listing of cases is a judicial function, and as such, prioritisation and scheduling decisions are the responsibility of judges. In practice, the judiciary generally lists cases to give priority to those with vulnerable parties and witnesses.
The Government continues work to deliver meaningful change for victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls to Parliament on 8 April 2025, which provided an update on the Government's work to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation. The statement can be found here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-04-08/debates/4FDDC9A4-1AC6-4F34-8E6B-3DF6CC2C981A/TacklingChildSexualAbuse?highlight=tackling#contribution-A9A86425-75DF-4AD4-815E-46755043F5C2.
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