Rape trials: Observer panels [Policy briefing]

Despite many attempts to improve rape trials, complainants still feel victimised at court. Some of the legal community argue that further reform is impossible because it would harm the defendant’s right to a fair trial, meaning that debates on improvement have stalled. New court research moves these debates forward through systematic anddetailed observations of actual trials. It shows the need for PCCs to fund court observer panels, where volunteers are trained to watch trials and identify areas for improvement. Findings are then fed back to local agencies for tailored, evidence-based practice.