VICTIMS of crime in north Essex are being denied effective justice because of long delays in the system, according to a charity.

North Essex is one of seven areas where the time between offence to a completed magistrate court case is, on average, more than 200 days.

Lucy Hastings, director of the charity Victim Support, said: “Our research shows waiting a long time to receive justice can be extremely stressful for victims and witnesses, preventing them from moving on with their lives.”

Speaking to the BBC, which carried out the research, she added: “The court’s failure to process criminal cases within a reasonable time frame, damages the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system itself.”

Delays at crown courts are even longer with cases getting their first hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court being unlikely to go to trial before May.

The delays, as well as causing problems for victims, also assist defendants who have committed crimes, with victims and witnesses having to recount details from months or even years previous which over time become less clear.

And it punishes defendants who have not committed crimes who have to live for months with a charge hanging over them.

A report by Victim Support states: “The consequence of an overburdened courts system and long waits for trial are serious and far reaching.

“Long waiting times may diminish the quality of the evidence given.”

The report also said waiting times were currently standing at a 16 year high.