Delivering justice
Across the capital, London’s criminal justice agencies are working together to build a better criminal justice service (CJS), cut crime and deliver justice. We want to ensure that London’s criminal justice service is effective in bring offences to justice, engages the public and inspires confidence, put the needs of the victim at its heart and has simple effective processes.
The London Criminal Justice Partnership (CJP) is improving the criminal justice experience in London by delivering a more effective, transparent and responsive CJS for victims and the public. The following projects support the delivery of a speedier service with simpler processes:
What we are doing:
Developing effective and consistent standards
Preparing cases for court
Speeding up first hearings in the magistrate court
Delivering faster court results
What we have delivered:
Improving the CJS's response to domestic violence standards
Standards for managing domestic violence cases will be driven up across London as part of a new multi-agency strategy.
The London CJP is working with Local Criminal Justice Groups across the capital to mainstream the eight minimum standards of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC) model that relate to criminal justice agencies. This will ensure that all criminal justice service (CJS) agencies use a common definition of domestic violence, bringing about consistency in the cases that are identified and flagged on the respective systems of each of the CJS agencies.
Read the briefing note on how we are working together to tackle domestic violence.
Integrated Prosecution Teams
The Integrated Prosecution Teams (IPT) brings together the pre-trial and case build functions of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to reduce duplication, while improving performance by using a single file and administrative process.
The Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and CPS are participating in the IPT project. Full roll out across London is expected by spring 2010.
For more information, see our Integrated Prosecution Teams page or read the briefing note.
Streamlined Forensic Reporting
Streamlined Forensic Reporting (SFR) provides forensic evidence which is purpose built and proportionate to the needs of each case.
SFR supplies sufficient information on key forensic evidence for the prosecutor, defence and court, enabling them to discuss forensic matters at the first court hearing. SFR reduces costs, minimises delays and provides a stronger basis for second stage evidence in preparation for a trial.
SFR was tested in Lewisham (since November 2008) and Greenwich (since January 2009). The London CJP is now expanding the pilot of SFR into further boroughs to enable a thorough evaluation before national role out is considered.
Virtual Courts
Piloted at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court in 2009, virtual courts use video conferencing technology to enable defendants to be heard in court from police stations. This allows most of the first hearings to take place within hours of charge, bringing benefits to victims, witnesses and defendants.
London alongside Kent are pilots for a national model, which aims to link more police stations and increase the volume of cases heard through the virtual courts.
For more information on virtual courts, click here.
Bichard 7
In 2003, the Home Secretary commissioned Sir Michael Bichard to assess the effectiveness of police vetting practices, intelligence-based record keeping and information sharing.
A number of recommendations were published, the seventh of which said that: 'the transfer of responsibility for inputting results onto the Police National Computer (PNC) should be reaffirmed (by the Courts)'. The Bichard 7 solution includes a new system which will automatically upload court results to the PNC - one of the most important tools used for investigating crime, security checking and providing defendant history to the courts.
The system is now line in all magistrates' courts in London. It will increase public safety by improving both the quality of data on the PNC and the speed with which this data is shared. Bichard 7 is being coordinated nationally by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform, working closely with the London CJP on the London rollout.
For more information, read out latest briefing note.
Streamlined Process
This initiative involves a streamlined process so cases are better prepared from the time when the offender is charged. This aims to save police time, ensure the majority of first time hearings are effective and there is better management for cases that need to go to trial.
The London CJP piloted an early version of the process in four London boroughs in the spring of 2007 and the learning from this informed a national pilot. Streamlined Process is now live across London.
For more information, read the latest briefing note.
Criminal Justice: Simple, Speedy, Summary (CJSSS) and CJSSS Youth
The CJSSS initiative aims to reduce the number of interim hearing on a simple case that will leave more time to concentrate on managing the more complex, serious cases. This means that cases are now better prepared from the point the offender is charged, the majority of first time hearings are effective and there is better management for cases that need to got to trial.
CJSSS has also been rolled out in all of London's youth courts. Young offenders are being brought to justice quicker and victims are better supported as part of the CJSSS Youth initiative, which aims to cut the time it takes for young offenders to be brought to justice.
The programme supports the preparation of youth cases from the point the offender is charged to ensure the majority of first time hearings are effective and there is better management for cases that need to go to trial. By cutting the time between the offence and sentencing, CJSSS Youth helps young people better understand the link between the offence and their punishment, helping deter young people from re-offending. Key elements of the CJSSS Youth programme include:
- Youth Offending Teams and police providing advance information to the court
- Improved preparation and readiness for first hearings by defence and youth offending teams
- Robust case management at the first hearing to reduce unnecessary adjournments and ensuring cases are progressed outside of the court room.