Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Accepted
Paragraph: 125
Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 changes require evaluation of impact on open justice.
Conclusion
The changes to criminal procedure in the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 should be carefully monitored. After one year of their operation, the Ministry of Justice should initiate an evaluation of how the changes are operating in practice, including their impact on open justice.
Government Response Summary
The government states that these changes, as part of the HMCTS reform programme, will be subject to a review in line with HMCTS’s public commitment to evaluate reform measures after a reasonable operating period.
Paragraph Reference:
125
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
101. The Judicial Review and Courts Act 202282 (JRCA) aims to remove unnecessary hearings and allow some procedures to be done online where defendants choose to do so. It is entirely optional. Defendants charged with either-way offences will be given the option of indicating a plea and deciding allocation online. Under the SJP, in a limited range of 81 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/705/contents/made 82 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/35/contents low-level summary-only offences (e.g. travelling on a train or tram without a ticket and fishing with an unlicensed rod and line) defendants may be offered the additional option of having the whole case dealt with online without the need to attend court in person. 102. These changes form part of the HMCTS reform programme and will be subject to a review in line with the public commitment by HMCTS to evaluate the impact of reform measures once the changes have been in operation for a reasonable amount of time.