Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many courts in England have separate entrances to allow victims of crime to avoid the accused.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) buildings have facilities and operational practices in place to make sure HMCTS fulfils its commitment to provide victims attending court with a different entrance to the defendant, and a separate waiting area before and after a case is heard, where possible. This is all done in accordance with the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales and the Witness Charter.

The most recent audit that looked at dedicated separate entrances for victims and witnesses was carried out in 2019. Of 359 courts who were surveyed, 170 (47%) had a dedicated separate entrance for victims and witnesses. Courts without dedicated separate entrances have processes to enable victims and witnesses to use alternative secure routes to get into a court.