Recommendation 29

HM Government Accepted

89. The £1.3bn HMCTS reform programme76 was launched in 2016 with the overall aim of a courts and tribunals system which is more straightforward, accessible, and efficient. This ambitious programme is designed to improve courts and tribunals for both those who use them and for those working in them. As HMCTS move into the final phase of delivery, it will complete some projects and develop and extend others, such as Common Platform, Single Justice service, CATH service, and VH service. These are outlined in more detail below. Court and Tribunal Hearings service.77 90. As also outlined in paragraphs 12 to 14, the CATH service is a new online service that will initially publish hearing lists for courts and tribunals in England and Wales. It also provides the foundation for publishing more court and tribunal information in the future. Our aim is to modernise and improve the way people find hearing information and provide it in a consistent and accessible way. We want to make the information easy to use for people who need it, in line with our commitment to open justice. We have already enabled accredited media representatives to subscribe to receive lists by email so they can choose how to view lists and plan which hearings to attend and the cases they report on. The service is currently publishing SJP lists and, by April 2023, will be publishing hearing lists for the civil and family courts. CATHs is available for anyone to use on GOV.UK. Video Hearings service.78 91. The VH service is HMCTS’s strategic solution for remote and hybrid hearings. VH is a bespoke platform, designed in partnership with the judiciary in order to replicate the gravitas of a hearing that takes place in person at a court or tribunal building. The design of VH was considered with users in mind and has the look-and-feel of a GOV.UK layout. This provides familiarity and confidence in the service. It is internet based, so it removes the need for users to download specialist software. The prototype of VH was first tested in October 2017, with pilots in different jurisdictions over the years, and it will be rolled out nationally over 2023 and 2024. The onset of the pandemic increased the urgency to provide a platform for participants and observers to attend hearings remotely, and the lessons-learned over these past few years have fed into the enhancement and improvement of the service. Single Justice service.79 92. The Single Justice Service allows magistrates’ courts to deal with minor offences in a way that is quicker, more straightforward, and more efficient, all while still being fair, 76 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-hmcts-reform-programme 77 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmcts-reform-infrastructure-and-enabling-services-fact-sheets/ fact-sheet-court-and-tribunal-hearings-service 78 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmcts-reform-infrastructure-and-enabling-services-fact-sheets/ fact-sheet-video-hearings-service 79 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmcts-reform-crime-fact-sheets/fact-sheet-single-justice-service transparent, and rigorous. A key element is the SJP, whereby a single magistrate, supported by a legal adviser, can decide adult, summary-only, non-imprisonable, and victimless offences (such as speeding, fare evasion and not having a TV Licence). The defendant always has the option to choose to attend a hearing in court in person. 93. Previously, all parties in a minor offence case would be expected to attend in person at the magistrates’ court. This adds to the demands on the court and increases the stress and time commitment for the defendant, which could interfere with their employment. The SJP means that minor cases — where the defendant pleads guilty or fails to respond to the charge — can be resolved without the need for a court hearing. It is possible for defendants to plead online, including details of any mitigating circumstances they would like the court to consider. The plea can be added to the case the same day it is entered. This reduces the length of time it takes for the case to be resolved. HMCTS’ new case management system, Common Platform, automates processes and significantly reduces the administrative tasks necessary on each case. The outcomes are recorded digitally and are immediately available to prosecutors and other parties. 94. Under the SJP, the media receive more information about these cases than they would if the cases were dealt with at hearings in court – which historically the media have rarely attended. Common Platform.80 95. Common Platform is a digital case management system. It allows all parties involved in a case secure access to case information in one place, including the judiciary, police, solicitors and barristers, the Crown Prosecution Service, court staff, and other criminal justice partners. It reduces the need for manual document handling and improves how criminal cases are accessed, managed, and processed. 96. HMCTS are currently implementing Common