Courts

Right to jury trial faces axe as courts try to clear backlog

Plans for less serious cases to be heard by judge and magistrates to speed up delivery of justice for victims

New child rape law could prolong victims’ wait for justice

Consent will no longer be admitted as defence but brings prospect of more trials involving children as record number of cases wait to go to court

Police could search homes and phones after pregnancy loss

New national guidance suggests officers look for menstrual tracking apps or abortion drugs

Prosecuted for taking abortion pills too late

In 2020, Nicola Packer had an abortion - then was arrested and put on trial. Now, found not guilty, she hopes she will be the last woman in history prosecuted under England’s archaic law