Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Increasing remand lengths cause significant personal harm and risk of miscarriages of justice.
Conclusion
Written evidence submitted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons stated that the length of time that people are remanded for and the extent to which this is changing is information that is not in the public domain. The Inspectorate’s evidence also explained that “the increasing average length of time an individual is spending remanded in custody means that many require additional support. This group are at greater risk of losing their accommodation, employment and custody of their children (especially women)”.39 Further written evidence submitted by academics from the Open University and Bath Spa University explained how guilty pleas, which can expediate court processes and led to reduced sentences, are an attractive option for some people on remand regardless of their own belief in their guilt or innocence, and can therefore lead to miscarriages of justice.40
Government Response Summary
The government commits to exploring initiatives to address time spent on remand and plans to develop and publish improved data on this by April 2027. It also highlights ongoing efforts to enhance court capacity and prioritise remand cases, and will consider further steps after independent reviews.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2025 4.2 Judges are responsible for listing, and remand cases are being prioritised by judges in line with legislative requirements. The government is working hard to enhance the capacity of the criminal justice system to dispose of cases more efficiently, and to that end it has commissioned independent reviews which will report shortly. In light of those reports, the Lord Chancellor will continue to discuss with the Lord Chief Justice the importance of doing all we can, together with CJS partners, to expedite and appropriately prioritise the hearing of remand cases, with particular focus on the oldest cases. 4.3 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2027 4.4 The MoJ is currently exploring several initiatives to address the question of time spent on remand. Based on current proposals, the MoJ anticipate being able to develop improved insights on time spent on remand by the end of March 2026. Any further work to understand the impact and outcomes of this will take additional time beyond that date. Once this data development is complete, MoJ will aim to include them in the relevant publication by April 2027. 4.5 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2025 4.6 There is a close relationship between the outstanding caseload and the prison remand population. While the listing of cases is a matter for the independent judiciary, custody time limits mean that there is a statutory obligation to prioritise the hearing of remand cases. Listing data shows that these cases are being prioritised. 4.7 MoJ’s existing action to reduce the outstanding caseload – including extending magistrates’ court sentencing powers, increasing Crown Court sitting days, and the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts – should help expedite the trials and sentencing of those held on remand. 4.8 MoJ will consider further steps when it receives the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts’ recommendations.