Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS)

About Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS)

Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS) is an executive agency formed in April 2005 to manage the work of all the courts in England and Wales (except the House of Lords).  HMCS is divided into 7 regions and 25 areas, each of which is manged by an Area Director.  HMCS provides administration and support for the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Crown Court, the Magistres' Courts, the County Courts and the Probate Service. 

There is a Courts Board for each area, members of which are drawn from the community, people with experience of the work of the courts, the Magistracy and the Judiciary.  The Courts Board and the Area Director work closely together to identify and plan for the delivery of courts administrative services which are appropriate to local circumstances. 

Further information on HMCS and the Courts Board for Leicestershire and Rutland can be found at: www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk. 

HMCS Strategic Priorities 2006-2011

The HMCS Business Strategy for 2006-2011 vision is to ensure:
"All citizens, according to their differing needs are entitled to access to justice, whether as victims of crime, defendants accused of crimes, consumers in debt, children in need of care, or business people in commercial disputes.  Our aim is to ensure that access is provided as quickly as possible and at the lowest cost consistent with open justice and that citizens have greater confidence in, and respect for, the system of justice." 

The objectives of HMCS are:

  • Promotion of a modern, fair, effective and efficient justice system that is available to all and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves. 
  • Support of an independent judiciary in the administration of justice. 
  • Achievement of best value for money. 
  • Continuous improvement of performance and efficiency across all aspects of the courts' work, having regard to the contribution the judiciary can appropriately make. 
  • Collaboration with an array of justice organisations and agencies, including the legal progressions, to improve the service provided for local communities. 
  • Greater confidence in, and respect for, the system of justice. 
  • Achievement of excellence as an employer. 

Leicestershire and Rutland's Strategic Priorities for 2008/09

  • Continued delivery of breakthrough promises. 
  • Developing and supporting our people to ensure they are fully equipped to deliver the best possible service. 
  • Embedding and mainstreaming diversity. 
  • Improving the customer experience within our courts. 
  • Planning for financial challenges for 2009-2011 to ensure we deliver excellent service at the lowest possible operating cost. 
Meet the Area Director

Richard Redgrave (pictured right) joined the DCA in August 2004 having previously been a General Manager in the NHS in Norfolk.  Richard was initially the Area Director for Lincolnshire and then in January 2007 took on the additional responsibiliies of Area Director for Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire. 

 

 

 

 

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