Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
We also asked about the impact of the pandemic on black, Asian and minority ethnic...
Conclusion
We also asked about the impact of the pandemic on black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals, particularly given that the Department has faced difficulties collecting and analysing data on ethnicity in the past. Since the Lammy review in 2017 into the experiences of ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system, the Department said that while it had made significant improvements in standardising the ethnicity data collected across the system, there are still large gaps and it does not have the data it needs to know the true impact of the pandemic. The Department said it is working to improve how it measures and evaluates the impact, although HMCTS said that its recent work has been focused on civil and family courts and tribunals rather than criminal courts. On remote hearings, HMCTS said it did collect data on ethnicity in its evaluation and found no significant variation in experiences between different ethnic groups.28 Rape and serious sexual offences
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.