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Criminal justice watchdog set to overhaul flawed system Criminal justice watchdog set to overhaul flawed system
(7 months later)
A criminal justice watchdog is to be formed to help overhaul a system that does not deliver the level of service the public "expect, want or deserve", a senior minister is to announce.A criminal justice watchdog is to be formed to help overhaul a system that does not deliver the level of service the public "expect, want or deserve", a senior minister is to announce.
Damian Green will reveal plans for a new criminal justice board, which will feature a senior judge and will help draw up a package of reforms to improve British justice.Damian Green will reveal plans for a new criminal justice board, which will feature a senior judge and will help draw up a package of reforms to improve British justice.
Accountability must be improved, technology must be exploited and "unforgivable" delays must be stopped, the policing and criminal justice minister will say.Accountability must be improved, technology must be exploited and "unforgivable" delays must be stopped, the policing and criminal justice minister will say.
In a speech to criminal justice stakeholders in London on Tuesday, Green will say: "To the wider public who come into contact with it – as witnesses, defendants or jurors, but most crucially, as victims – this is a system that often does not deliver the level of service they expect, want or deserve."In a speech to criminal justice stakeholders in London on Tuesday, Green will say: "To the wider public who come into contact with it – as witnesses, defendants or jurors, but most crucially, as victims – this is a system that often does not deliver the level of service they expect, want or deserve."
The speech is a progress update after plans were first revealed last year in a government white paper on reforming the criminal justice system.The speech is a progress update after plans were first revealed last year in a government white paper on reforming the criminal justice system.
The new board, which will meet for the first time next week, will also include a policing and crime commissioner representative and Alex Marshall, chief executive of the College of Policing, the recently formed professional body.The new board, which will meet for the first time next week, will also include a policing and crime commissioner representative and Alex Marshall, chief executive of the College of Policing, the recently formed professional body.
Green will say he is determined that it will not be "another talking shop or target-setting body" but rather it will deal with operational barriers and lack of co-ordination that frustrate progress.Green will say he is determined that it will not be "another talking shop or target-setting body" but rather it will deal with operational barriers and lack of co-ordination that frustrate progress.
He will add: "I want to see much more of a focus on working together with one common purpose, so that the whole system responds to tackle problems and find solutions, regardless of where the immediate financial benefits lie."He will add: "I want to see much more of a focus on working together with one common purpose, so that the whole system responds to tackle problems and find solutions, regardless of where the immediate financial benefits lie."
The board will help draw up new reforms, to be unveiled in the spring, for a criminal justice system that has seen little progress in the last 160 years, Green will say.The board will help draw up new reforms, to be unveiled in the spring, for a criminal justice system that has seen little progress in the last 160 years, Green will say.
The system is characterised by long delays and trials are not being managed properly, he will say, with 44% of magistrates courts trials starting on the day for which they are planned.The system is characterised by long delays and trials are not being managed properly, he will say, with 44% of magistrates courts trials starting on the day for which they are planned.
Green will say: "The majority of magistrates court trials don't go ahead on the day they are planned to. If every day only 44% of trains left the stations or 44% of planned hospital operations took place, there would be a national uproar. Yet every day this happens in the magistrates courts.Green will say: "The majority of magistrates court trials don't go ahead on the day they are planned to. If every day only 44% of trains left the stations or 44% of planned hospital operations took place, there would be a national uproar. Yet every day this happens in the magistrates courts.
"What we should all want to see is justice delivered. Bringing cases to trial more quickly, and then resolving them swiftly is absolutely essential for victims and for witnesses.""What we should all want to see is justice delivered. Bringing cases to trial more quickly, and then resolving them swiftly is absolutely essential for victims and for witnesses."
Green will say he wants to bring an end to the practice of "overlisting" in courts – when courts list more than one trial to start at the same time. "Some victims and witnesses may have come to court several times already and been turned away because the case has been adjourned for lack of court time," he will say.Green will say he wants to bring an end to the practice of "overlisting" in courts – when courts list more than one trial to start at the same time. "Some victims and witnesses may have come to court several times already and been turned away because the case has been adjourned for lack of court time," he will say.
"The solution must be to tackle the root cause of trials not going ahead in the first place. I want practitioners across the criminal justice system to work together to prevent these delays, to improve the proportion of successful trials and to deliver a system that meets our shared outcomes.""The solution must be to tackle the root cause of trials not going ahead in the first place. I want practitioners across the criminal justice system to work together to prevent these delays, to improve the proportion of successful trials and to deliver a system that meets our shared outcomes."
Green will task the new board with improving accountability. "I believe that the drive to greater transparency will also reap an additional reward – an improvement in public confidence," he will say. "One of the ways we want to increase transparency to improve public confidence is by allowing broadcasting in court."Green will task the new board with improving accountability. "I believe that the drive to greater transparency will also reap an additional reward – an improvement in public confidence," he will say. "One of the ways we want to increase transparency to improve public confidence is by allowing broadcasting in court."
A greater use of technology, such as video links, will put an end to an unacceptable level of paperwork and delays, he will say. The aim for the criminal justice system must be a single case file that progresses electronically right through the system from police to court and then prison or probation without constant re-keying of information, the minister will add.A greater use of technology, such as video links, will put an end to an unacceptable level of paperwork and delays, he will say. The aim for the criminal justice system must be a single case file that progresses electronically right through the system from police to court and then prison or probation without constant re-keying of information, the minister will add.
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