Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
The Department told us that the use of remote hearings is at the discretion of...
Conclusion
The Department told us that the use of remote hearings is at the discretion of the judge in each individual case, and that everybody is entitled to have their reasonable adjustments considered by the judge. However, a third of people who requested reasonable adjustments said their request was not granted. The Department said that it will look into these issues further to ensure that participants’ needs are taken into account. HMCTS told us it will take several more months to work through the detail of the evaluation and revise its approach if needed.27
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2024 5.2 As part of the evaluation of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) reform, HMCTS will consider the experience of criminal court users. Field work is due to commence in line with implementation stages of the Common Platform, as it seeks to understand how reform is affecting users. Findings from the study are anticipated in Autumn 2024. 5.3 Data on criminal court users’ ethnicity and vulnerability (a subset of protected characteristic data) is primarily collected by the police which is the point of entry into the criminal justice system. HMCTS now receives a regular data feed from the police with case information and some protected characteristic data that has been completed by police officers. However, the approach to data collection varies across police force areas and does not align with the most recent harmonised standards for protected characteristics which means the department currently has a partial data set by which to identify these users and evaluate their experience. 5.4 The department is reviewing the current data it receives from the police to establish and document current gaps in the data and understand what improvements and analysis can be undertaken. Any programme to improve data standards and modelling will require a cross system mobilisation involving the Home Office and the police. 5.5 The department will be working with partners across the criminal justice system including the Home Office and the CPS on a programme of work to improve data and will consider how to incorporate recommendations on vulnerabilities and ethnic minorities as part of this wider strategy. The MOJ is also a lead partner in the Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) programme, which is looking to tackle some of the most complex criminal justice system issues by linking data held across multiple government departments and agencies. 5.6 As referenced in the response to recommendation 6, the local criminal justice system scorecards for all crime and adult rape contain metrics which reflect the government’s priorities for the Criminal Justice System. One of these outcomes is increasing victim engagement and the department will monitor the relevant metrics, including exploring additional ones, to better understand the experience of victims from all backgrounds.