Last week in Parliament, we debated the Courts and Tribunals Bill, legislation that goes to the heart of ensuring that our justice system works for the people it serves.

At the centre of this Bill is a simple but important question—how do we ensure that victims of crime receive the justice they are promised?

For many people, contact with the criminal justice system comes at one of the most difficult moments of their lives. Reporting a crime, giving evidence and participating in a trial can be an incredibly stressful and often traumatic experience.

Yet victims do so because they believe in the system. They believe that if they come forward and tell the truth, the institutions of this country—the police, the courts and the rule of law—will stand behind them.

That belief is fundamental to the strength of our justice system, but today it is too often being tested.

One of the most pressing challenges facing our courts is the growing backlog of cases awaiting trial. For victims, that means long waits for cases to be heard and for justice to be delivered.

Victims who have done everything asked of them—reporting crimes, supporting investigations and preparing to give evidence—often face months or even years before their case reaches court.

Justice delayed becomes justice denied.

It is important to recognise that the people working within our justice system—judges, magistrates and court staff—are working tirelessly under significant pressure. Magistrates, in particular, give up their time voluntarily to serve the public and uphold the rule of law in their communities.

Their dedication keeps the system functioning, but it cannot alone solve the structural pressures our courts face.

That is why this Bill introduces reforms designed to improve how our courts operate.

One key measure is to expand the sentencing powers available to magistrates. By allowing more cases to be dealt with in magistrates’ courts, less serious offences can be resolved more quickly, freeing up Crown Court capacity for the most serious and complex trials.

The Bill also provides courts with greater flexibility in determining where cases should be heard. While that may sound like a technical change, it can make a real difference to how efficiently cases move through the system.

Despite living in an age where technology has transformed almost every part of our lives, parts of the justice system still rely on outdated processes.

Improving the use of technology—from accessing court information to managing evidence—can make the system more efficient, transparent and easier for victims to navigate.

The Bill also addresses concerns raised by survivors of domestic abuse within the family court system. Removing the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act reflects long-standing concerns that a “pro-contact culture” can sometimes overlook the safety of children and survivors.

Legislation of this scale will continue to be scrutinised as it progresses through Parliament, which is an essential part of the democratic process.

But doing nothing is simply not an option. Without reform, court backlogs will continue to grow, victims will continue to wait, and confidence in our justice system will continue to erode.