VICTIMS of crime in Pembrokeshire and across England and Wales are being urged to share their experiences of lengthy court delays, as a survey from the Victims’ Commissioner is set to close on Thursday, 12 September. The survey, launched by Baroness Newlove, aims to collect views on how delays in the criminal justice system are affecting victims and the support they receive during these prolonged waits.

Court backlogs have reached unprecedented levels, with figures from the Ministry of Justice showing the Crown Court currently grappling with 67,573 outstanding cases, 16,031 of which have been unresolved for over a year. The survey follows concerns that these delays are contributing to victims withdrawing from the justice process, particularly in cases involving adult rape, where nearly two-thirds of investigations were closed due to victims pulling out.

Baroness Newlove is calling on victims whose cases resulted in criminal charges to complete the anonymous five-minute survey before it closes. Available in both English and Welsh, the survey seeks to shed light on how delays are impacting victims’ mental health and access to justice, with findings set to inform future recommendations to government and criminal justice agencies.

Speaking on the urgency of the issue, the Victims’ Commissioner stated, “No one should be expected to wait years for their case to reach court. Justice is not being delivered in a timely or effective way, and victims are paying the price. With a record backlog in our Crown Courts, the justice system is under immense strain, and we cannot ignore the impact this is having on victims.”

Baroness Newlove continued, “I often hear from victims stuck in limbo, anxiously awaiting their day in court. One victim questioned whether a system that inflicts such delays can truly claim to be delivering justice. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a wider systemic issue, causing real distress.”

Data reveals that at the end of December 2023, over a quarter of all cases (27%) were postponed on the day of the trial, further compounding victims’ frustrations. With Crown Court delays at a record high, Baroness Newlove hopes the survey will help pinpoint how these issues are affecting victims and what steps can be taken to reduce the strain on the system.

The findings from the survey will contribute to a forthcoming report aimed at easing the burden on victims and improving the overall efficiency of the criminal justice process. Victims across Pembrokeshire and beyond whose cases were charged by the Crown Prosecution Service are encouraged to participate, regardless of when their case took place or if it remains ongoing.

To access the regional breakdown of court delays and complete the survey, visit the Victims’ Commissioner’s website.

The survey closes tomorrow, and victims are being urged to take this final opportunity to voice their concerns and influence future changes aimed at restoring fairness and support to the justice process.

CONCERNS are mounting as around 1,750 inmates are set to be released early from overcrowded UK prisons, despite warnings that the scheme could lead to increased instability in communities. A former inmate from HMP Parc in Wales cautioned that “unstable” prisoners, who have not been rehabilitated, will soon “come back out on to the streets.”

The controversial decision has been made to alleviate overcrowding, with the government stating that failure to act would have led to a “total collapse of the criminal justice system.” However, Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, has criticised the scheme, warning that prisons risk becoming a “revolving door” where offenders return to crime due to inadequate rehabilitation efforts.

Mr Taylor highlighted the strain this mass release will place on already stretched probation services, telling Sky News on Tuesday (Sept 10): “It’s a risky time with so many prisoners coming out at the same time.”

Normally, around 1,000 prisoners are released weekly, but with this scheme, an additional 1,700 offenders will be freed. Another wave of 2,000 releases is expected in October, heightening the risk to public safety.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the decision, attributing the move to a prison system on the verge of collapse. She stated: “The alternative would have seen a total breakdown of law and order, with courts unable to conduct trials and police unable to make arrests.” She assured that early release does not apply to inmates convicted of sexual offences, serious violence, terrorism, or domestic abuse.

The government’s decision coincides with a damning report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons, which paints a grim picture of life behind bars. The report reveals a surge in drug use, self-harm, and violence in prisons, with 30 out of 32 inspected institutions rated poorly in providing purposeful activity. It also highlights the issue of overcrowding, with 60% of prisons over capacity, exacerbating already dire conditions.

At HMP Bedford, 30% of prisoners due for release had no secure accommodation, adding to the concerns that many offenders may find themselves homeless, compounding their likelihood of reoffending.

A former inmate of HMP Parc, Zack Griffiths, who has campaigned for prison reform, shared his concerns about drugs entering the prison, claiming that corrupt officers and drones were smuggling substances in. He said: “These people are not being rehabilitated. Inmates are going to come back out on to the streets… and I consider them to be a higher risk because they’re using drugs, they’re unstable.”

The problem of synthetic drugs in prisons, particularly spice and nitazines, has been linked to several deaths. Earlier this year, there were ten deaths in HMP Parc over just three months, and self-harm incidents in the prison have doubled in the past year. One case, involving 26-year-old Ryan Harding, who died of a suspected overdose, highlighted the growing danger of synthetic drugs inside prisons.

Ryan’s mother, Catherine Harding, criticised the prison, alleging that her son was more vulnerable due to inadequate medical treatment for his epilepsy and that prison officers were involved in bringing drugs into the facility.

HMP Parc, which is privately run by G4S, has faced significant scrutiny. While the company expressed condolences to families affected by inmate deaths, it acknowledged the challenges posed by a “small minority” of corrupt officers.

The early release programme, intended to relieve pressure on the prison system, has sparked widespread concern, with fears that many released inmates will breach their bail conditions or reoffend, leading them straight back to overcrowded prisons.

A MAN’S attempts to understand why his relationship ended have led to a court appearance, where self-employed joiner Mathew Williams pleaded guilty to harassment without violence. Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Williams, 38, and his former partner, Angharad Llewellyn, had been in a three-year relationship. After a brief separation, they reunited in September 2023.

“They were planning to spend Christmas together, and my client thought the relationship was back on track,” said Williams’ solicitor, David Williams. However, when Ms. Llewellyn ended the relationship, Williams was left in shock.

Between December 17, 2023, and February 15, 2024, Williams made repeated attempts to contact Ms. Llewellyn, despite her desire for no further communication.

“He didn’t want to accept the end of the relationship,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan explained, adding that his persistent efforts gave Ms. Llewellyn no respite. In a victim statement read in court, Ms. Llewellyn said she was left feeling “more anxious than I did previously.”

Williams, of Awel y Preselau, Llandissilio, was fined £900, ordered to pay a £360 court surcharge and £85 in costs. He was also issued a 12-month restraining order, prohibiting any contact with Angharad Llewellyn.