PMQs: Sunak fails to back giving rape victims access to free court transcripts

Embargo: For Immediate Release

Rishi Sunak today failed to back a call at Prime Minister’s Questions from Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney, to change the law to give victims access to free court transcripts.

Sarah Olney’s question was on behalf of her constituent, Juliana Terlizzi, who was drugged and raped by her then-boyfriend in 2020. When Terlizzi requested a copy of the court transcript to aid with her healing process, she was ordered to pay over £7,000 to access it. Terlizzi, who was in the gallery for the question, branded Rishi Sunak’s response as yet more empty words, adding it was “a slap in the face” for victims.

Shockingly, cases like this are widespread, with victims regularly being quoted up to £22,000 for transcripts of trials in which they were a part. One recent case involved a girl who was raped and sexually abused by her father, but whose family were then quoted £6,534 for the transcript of his trial.

The Liberal Democrats have proposed an amendment to the Victims’ and Prisoners’ Bill, scheduled for a vote in the House of Lords next week on Tuesday 23rd April, which would tackle these costs being charged to victims. The amendment, tabled by Baroness Sal Brinton, would allow all crime victims to request a transcript of the court’s summing up and sentencing remarks, so long as the trial took place in a court where the proceedings are recorded. This would include all crown court cases where serious offences, including robbery, rape and murder, are tried. 

Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney said: 

“No victim or bereaved family should be forced to pay thousands to access a court transcript that’s part of their own story. The Prime Minister could easily tackle this injustice, but his government’s continued refusal to do so speaks volumes.

“Cases like Juliana’s are sadly all too common. Yet still, Conservative Ministers have continually failed to support our amendment to the Victims’ Bill which would help reduce the cost of these transcripts for victims.

“Victims deserve real action, not just empty words. It is high time the Prime Minister stood up, listened to our calls, and took concrete action to make this much needed change.”

Campaigner Juliana Terlizzi said: 

“Rishi Sunak’s response today was a slap in the face for victims. ‘Sorry’ does not go far enough for people like me who are sick and tired of empty promises from a government which, when push comes to shove, continually refuses our calls for action on court transcript costs. 

“Justice should not have a price tag. Rather than yet more empty words, the government must finally act to support victims and back this amendment to reduce transcript costs.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

1. Sarah Olney, Juliana Terlizzi and Lily (anonymously), the child victim whose family were quoted over £6,500, are available for interview upon request.  

2. Juliana Terlizzi’s case has previously received coverage on BBC Newsnight, LBC, The Daily Express and others. 

3. The case of the child, Lily (name change for anonymity reasons) whose family were charged over £6,500 for the transcript of the trial of her rapist first reported in The Times here. 

4. In November Sarah Olney coordinated a letter from MPs from all parties and charities  including the CEOs of Refuge, Rape Crisis UK, Women’s Aid and SAMM, as well as Cherie Booth CBE KC, the Victims’ Commissioner for London, the Chair of the Justice Select Committee, to the Justice Secretary demanding the law change to prevent rape victims and bereaved families paying for court transcripts. A copy of the open letter  including a full list of signatories can be found here.

5. Details of the amendment to the Victims’ and Prisoners’ Bill scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd can be seen here and wording here: 

BARONESS BRINTON

Clause 2, page 2, line 36, at end insert – 

“(5A) Regulations under subsection (4) must make provision for a person to be able to obtain free of charge, on request, a transcript of the court’s summing up and sentencing remarks from a trial in which –

(a) the person was a victim of a crime; and

(b) where that crime is tried in a court where the hearing is recorded.”

Member’s Explanatory Statement  – This amendment will provide all victims with a right to free transcripts of the sentencing remarks and the judge’s summing up where the trial takes place in a court where the hearing is recorded.