ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE HOME OFFICE, THE LORD CHANCELLOR''S DEPARTMENT, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL''S OFFICE
113/99 The first ever co-ordinated Strategic and Business Plans which unite the key partners in the #12 billion criminal justice system in England and Wales are published today.
Published jointly by the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General, the Strategic and Business Plans aim to ensure the criminal justice system delivers what the public expects from it.
Its key aims are to:
- Reduce crime, the fear of crime and its social and economic costs and
- Dispense justice fairly and efficiently and to promote confidence in the rule of law.
The three-year plan establishes the Government''s overarching aims, objectives and performance measures for the criminal justice system as a whole. It explains how the Police, the CPS, the Courts, the Prison and Probation services will work together to deliver a more streamlined, co-ordinated system.
Demanding targets have been set for each of the key objectives including:
- A reduction in the long-run rate in the growth of crime by 31 March 2002 and a 30% reduction in vehicle crime within 5 years;
- A reduction in the adverse impact of crime and disorder on people''s lives with a target to reduce the fear of crime by 31 March 2002;
- A reduction in the economic costs of crime with a targeted reduction to be achieved by 31 March 2002;
- The promotion of confidence in the criminal justice system, ensuring just processes and effective outcomes and a reduction in reconviction rates by 31 March 2002;
- Halving the time taken for persistent young offender cases and introducing a target for a reduction in the period from arrest to sentence for all offenders to be achieved by 31 March 2002; and
- To meet the needs of victims, witnesses and jurors within the system; to respect the rights of defendants and to treat them fairly
- improvements in each to be achieved by 31 March 2002.
The Business Plan sets out in more detail the ways in which the criminal justice system will be working to meet the aims and objectives during 1999-2000.
It includes details of initiatives - such as reducing delay in the Magistrates'' Courts. Most of these initiatives require a partnership approach with all the agencies working together.
Other changes already planned include improved alignment of the geographical boundaries of criminal justice agencies to provide a better fit around the 42 Police areas in England and Wales.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. "The Criminal Justice System - Strategic Plan 1999- 2002 and Business Plan 1999-2000" was published on . Copies are being circulated widely within the criminal justice system.
2. Additional copies may be obtained from the Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit, Room 913, 50 Queen Anne''s Gate, London SW1H 9AT. (Tel: 0171 273 4421).
3. A revised Business Plan will be published in March 2000 covering the 2000-2001 financial year. In addition an Annual Report on the criminal justice system will be published in autumn 2000 to report back on progress in achieving these plans during 1999-2000.
4. The plans are also available on the Criminal Justice System website: http://www.criminal-justice-system.gov.uk
# = pounds sterling
