Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Deferred
Establish a Royal Commission to review the criminal justice processes.
Recommendation
The evidence to this inquiry has shown that the criminal courts are going through a period of significant change and the question of the role of technology in the courts is particularly pressing. The Government should proceed with its manifesto commitment to establish a Royal Commission on the criminal justice processes. (Paragraph 85) Civil and family courts Family Court
Government Response Summary
The government has deferred the recommendation to establish a Royal Commission, stating they are considering where it would add most value given substantial existing cross-departmental work and ongoing significant reform programmes in the criminal justice system.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Although the Government recognises the opportunity that the Royal Commission presents to look at structural questions in the system, we are now taking the time to consider where a Royal Commission will add the most value to the substantial cross-departmental work already underway. We are already delivering significant programmes of work to ensure all component parts of the system work together to deliver swifter justice. We have published the CJS Delivery Data Dashboard (formerly called the CJS Scorecard) which is a vital step in improving transparency and increasing understanding of the CJS. Under the HMCTS Court Reform programme, we have been modernising our services since 2016 to improve efficiency and provide new, user-friendly digital services. We have introduced the Common Platform system in the criminal courts which ensures the courts, the CPS, and police all have access to the same case information, and it is now live in 50% of Criminal cases. We have introduced measures for a number of reforms to the courts system through the Judicial Review and Courts Act and expanded measures for video and audio hearings in courts through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. Technology in the courts was the solution to keep justice moving during the pandemic and remote hearings have played an integral part in our continued recovery of the courts, with the Video Hearing Service, designed in partnership between HMCTS and the judiciary, now being rolled out to replace the Cloud Video Platform.