Backlog of child sex abuse cases surged by 70% during pandemic
Over 4,500 different cases were waiting to be processed in 2021
The number of child sex abuse cases waiting to go through the legal system significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Figures from the Ministry of Defence found that between 2020 and 2021, the number of outstanding cases in the UK went up from nearly 2,700 to 4,560 - a rise of 70%.
A Freedom of Information request by the NSPCC found that many cases were unable to be heard during the COVID pandemic due to court closures, but others also fell through the cracks as a result of reduced funding in recent years.
As a result, the children's charity is calling on the government to improve the system so that victims can get justice quicker.
In addition, the NSPCC is hoping that money spent by the Crown Prosecution Service will help remove barriers when giving therapy to victims.
Current guidance on how to deliver therapy to victims without jeopardising potentially important evidence at trials is causing chaos and 'confusion' according to the charity.
Speaking about the figures, the NSPCC's head of policy and public affairs, Anna Edmundson, said that there should be more focus on the sensitivity of the case.
"Waiting to go to court can be a distressing experience for young witnesses and victims of child sexual abuse and increasingly long delays without the necessary therapeutic support hampers recovery," she said.
"The Government needs to urgently tackle the backlog that has ballooned during the pandemic through investing in the system and prioritising cases involving young witnesses and victims.
"At the same time, we want the Crown Prosecution Service to finalise guidance to provide clarity on the level of support available before a child sexual abuse case comes to trial.
"Failure to do so is likely to have a knock-on that will be felt by witnesses and victims for many years."