Monday 08:00
Speeding up summary justice is the focus of a visit today by Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer. He will see how simple, speedy summary justice has worked at Thames Magistrates' Court.
Lord Falconer said: "Thames Magistrates' Court is a good example of how courts can deliver a criminal justice system that is responsive to the needs of victims and witnesses, and ultimately to the public it serves."
"The essence of summary justice is that it should be simple and speedy. Thames is speeding up the time it takes for cases to be dealt with and reducing unnecessary attendance at court by victims and witnesses.
"Simple, speedy justice means getting the right information to the right people at the right time, and making sure that trials go ahead at the earliest possible date. It builds up public confidence in the criminal justice system and fits in with the Government's commitment to protect the public and reduce crime."
At Thames, Lord Falconer will hear from magistrates, judges and frontline staff about how the court works with local partners to manage cases and ensure that the right information is ready at all stages from pre-court hearings to full trials.
Lord Falconer said:
"The implementation of magistrates' streamlining is about all parties working together to achieve better outcomes for all concerned - achieving a virtuous circle.
"Better provision of information means that many more offenders are pleading guilty at an early stage, often within a few days of charge. The project at Thames has been an exemplar of best practice by working with its local probation service so that there can be fast probation reports on the day. This makes better use of resources, means that many more offenders can be sentenced quickly and that more offenders can be rewarded for early guilty pleas.
"As we roll out these processes nationally, speeding up the process will ensure more defendants receive credit for an early guilty plea and help reduce the length of time defendants spend on remand."
During the visit Lord Falconer will hear about changes to processes and procedures that have resulted in real improvements to the summary justice system including:
* a reduction by half in the average time taken from first hearing of a case, to final disposal by the court * more guilty pleas being entered at first hearings and fewer cases being adjourned for trial, reducing unnecessary attendance at court by victims, witnesses and police officers * more cases being sentenced immediately without the need for adjournment (two-thirds of all cases where a guilty plea is entered) * where not guilty pleas are entered, a reduction in the average waiting time for trial from around 3 months, to typically 7 weeks * better case preparation ensuring that advocates and judiciary are clear about the issues involved in the case * effective working arrangements across the criminal justice system.
Her Majesty's Courts Service London Crime North & West Area Director Sandra Aston said:
"Thames is one of a number of courts where the local criminal justice agencies have jointly undertaken a fundamental review of their processes in order to simplify and improve the throughput of cases. It has involved a significant effort on the part of all the agencies, and particularly the police criminal justice units, but there have been real dividends both in terms of reducing delay and improving internal procedures. The project was modest in scope to start with, but it soon became apparent that benefits could be realised across a broad range of the work. We are now looking at how we can share Thames's best practices and others from a successful pilot at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court across the capital."
Notes to Editors
1. Criminal Justice Simple, Speedy, Summary (CJSSS) aims to improve efficiency in the magistrates' courts, by increasing the proportion of pleas at first hearing, and within that context encouraging the earlier identification of guilty pleas. Under CJSSS justice will be:
* Simple - cases that are best dealt with by way of warning, caution or some other effective remedy to prevent re-offending without the court process will not enter the courts. * Speedy - those cases that need the court process will be dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with the needs of justice. * Summary - a much more proportionate approach - for example dealing with appropriate cases the day after charge or during the same week.
2. The scheme targets improvements to prosecution preparation and defence readiness for first hearing, the effectiveness of first hearings and out of court case progression.
3. Four areas tested the initiatives between May and December 2006 and there is now a programme of national roll out. The areas were Coventry, West Cumbria - Whitehaven and Workington - and London - Thames and Camberwell Green.
ENDS
Issued by GNN London on behalf of Her Majesty's Court Service
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk
Client ref 01/07
