Crime victims die while waiting for justice as England and Wales legal system ‘on its knees’

Shameful' backlogs in cases are causing severe mental health problems, says victims commissioner

Victims of crime are dying waiting for justice as they face delays of up to six years for their cases to be dealt with in court, the victims' commissioner for England and Wales has said.

As a new law to enshrine victims' rights is scrutinised in the House of Lords, Baroness Helen Newlove warned that the wider justice system was on its knees", with shameful" backlogs leaving victims suffering acute mental health problems.