The Beacon Approach

Beacons in the Thames Valley

The National Criminal Justice Board has outlined its vision of LCJBs as the leaders of change within the CJS driving criminal justice reform in their areas. Their view is that the greatest improvements in local services can only be achieved through LCJBs given their understanding of the environment in which they operate. The vision, therefore, is to create local change at a local level to meet local needs.

The Beacon Approach, currently being developed with ten LCJBs, is the mechanism for delivering this vision and it is important to emphasise that this is not a strict national formula.

Thames Valley is one of the ten LCJBs chosen to implement the Beacon Approach. The programme Manager is Sarah Stinson. Sarah said:

"The Beacon Approach enables each LCJB to influence and manage change in their area in a timely, cohesive manner. Historically each area was told to implement this or that within a prescribed timescale - the Beacon toolset enables us to assess where we are, what impact or potential benefits an initiative will have on us locally and whether or when to implement changes. Clearly we will still have to adopt legislative change, but the Beacons approach gives each LCJB the autonomy to manage change locally."

For future CJS business plans, the National Criminal Justice Board envisages that there will be continued dialogue with LCJBs, not just on targets, but also on the most appropriate programme of change to meet local needs. Key milestones have been set nationally, however, to measure rates of progress in implementation.

What Will Success Look Like?

Successful implementation will be evidenced by a long term sustainable programme of improvements which will allow LCJBs to more accurately identify areas where change is needed and to manage and deliver that change effectively. Ultimately it will be in the delivery of a proportionate process for handling different levels of offending more efficiently whilst, at the same time, improving the confidence of the local community.

LCJBs will agree a programme of phased change to include some or all of the core and non-core projects as well as areas of work that they identify as important in their area.

Where Are The Ten Beacon LCJB Sites?

  • Cheshire - Crewe and Macclesfield
  • Cumbria - North and West Cumbria
  • Greater Manchester - Salford
  • Lancashire - Lancashire
  • Leicestershire
  • London - Westminster
  • Merseyside - Merseyside
  • Staffordshire - Trent Valley
  • Suffolk - West Suffolk
  • Thames valley - Oxfordshire

What is the Core Programme in Thames Valley?

  • CJSSS - Criminal Justice Simple Speedy Summary
  • Conditional Cautioning
  • Community Engagement
  • Witness Charter
  • Progress IT System
  • Directors Guidance Quick Process - under review

Non-Core Programme

  • CCJM - Corporate Criminal Justice Model
  • OBM - Optimum Business Model
  • Video Conferencing
  • Postal Charging
  • EXISS Links
  • Foreign national Prisoners
  • Disclosure

What are the Objectives of the Core Programme?

The specific focus of the Core Programme is to deliver a proportionate process for handling different levels of offending more effectively, to deliver more for less whilst also improving the confidence of the local community. To achieve this end specific principles will apply. These are:

  • Streamlining the process in the courts
  • Making appropriate use of alternative disposals
  • Maximising the use of technology
  • Ensuring proportionate case preparation
  • Providing witness care and support through the CJS
  • Involving the community in the CJS

Areas have individually undertaken analysis of their own processes in order to define and refine their own solutions to the challenges that they face. Process mapping through the Local Implementation Team here in the Thames Valley has been ongoing since July this year and this analysis has helped to highlight the local priorities for Thames Valley to tackle outside of the Core Programme.

Timing and Milestones

In December 2007 Thames valley reported to OCJR (Office of Criminal Justice Reform) on progress made to date. This included the business analysis and delivery plans for the Core Programme projects together with locally defined business improvements.

In Thames valley completion of process mapping has already taken place. This information is now being fed into the Waterfall. The Waterfall is a CJS process model which sets out diagrammatically the end to end CJS process which will highlight areas of rework and undesirable outcomes. This will allow Thames Valley to easily identify and quantify problems and cost "hotspots" which impact adversely on the CJS process and will be used to decide local change priorities.

Your Local Implementation Team

  • Sarah Stinson - Programme Manager
  • Michael Curry - LCJB Manager
  • Robert Branton - Performance Manager, Criminal Justice
  • Karin Williams - Criminal Justice Oxon TVP
  • Terry Hinchly - Criminal Justice HQ TVP
  • Christine Pusey  - Unir Head Oxfordshire CPS
  • Lester Keates - HMCS
  • Liz Thomas - HMCS
  • Phil Densham - HMCS
  • Alan Jarman - Performance Advisor, OCJR
  • Nigel Mayer - Area Business Change Manager, OCJR

Next Steps

The LIT and the Project Board will continue to evaluate risks and issues as well as potential benefits which emerge from the waterfall process. However, it is anticipated that, arising from this process will be a more effective and efficient CJS process.

 

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact either Sarah Stinson or Michael Curry at the lcjb on lcjb@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

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