Crime Reduction Programme
Fit for the Future Modernising the Criminal Justice System
'Criminal Justice – The Way Ahead' has been published jointly by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor’s Department and the Attorney General’s Office, and sets out proposals and ideas for the reform of the Criminal Justice System.
Every part of the current system, will be subject to modernisation, in order that a new criminal justice service can be delivered. The goals of the review are
to assist police, prosecutors, courts, prisons and probation to deal more effectively with offenders,
to increase support for victims and witnesses,
to provide a professional service to the public.
Key areas of reform for the main criminal justice service providers are detailed below:
Improved policing can be achieved by:
an enhanced detective capability, possibly drawing on outside experience from the public or private sector,
a new joint central body to set out a police service-wide strategic approach to information technology, scientific and technical developments,
building up public reassurance with record numbers of officers, increasing police visibility, including through intelligence-led patrolling, experimental accreditation of non-police contributions to community safety and easier ways for the public to get in touch with the police such as IT links and mobile police stations,
a more structured career management process, including the development of a new Leadership Development Board.
More effective prosecutions will require:
increased investment in the Crown Prosecution Service – funding already set for a 23 per cent increase in 2001-2 with more to follow,
a specialist cadre of prosecutors to deal with organised and serious crime,
a new consolidated criminal code to improve public confidence and shorten and simplify trials.
In the criminal courts, the following are already being explored or piloted:
specialist hearings, for example dealing with drugs offences or domestic violence,
extended business hours to cut delay,
online information for court users and the public.
Other developments such as simplification of rules of evidence and the codification of the criminal law will be informed by Sir Robin Auld’s review of criminal courts.
Punishments to fit the criminal as well as the crime are an important final stage in the process, and will take account of the current review of sentencing, which is nearing completion. Proposals include:
continued oversight and intervention by the criminal justice system of drug addicted offenders,
a new sentencing philosophy which pays more regard to crime reduction and reparation with new, more flexible community sentences,
severity of punishments should increase for persistent offenders,
improved supervision and support of short sentence prisoners after release from prison – a new Custody Plus sentence.
It is equally important to ensure that the experience of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system is as simple and straightforward as possible. The reform outlined in ‘Criminal Justice – The Way Ahead’ places these needs at the heart of the modernisation process including proposals such as :
court familiarisation visits and improved court waiting facilities for prosecution witnesses,
introduction of Victim Personal Statements, so victims (including bereaved relatives in homicide cases) can give a statement in their own words saying how the crime has affected their lives,
a new role for the Crown Prosecution Service in keeping victims informed about the progress of cases,
a ‘Victim’s Fund’ to ensure victims are more swiftly compensated,
consulting on a new Victim’s Charter, to include whether to establish a Victims’ Ombudsman to champion victims’ interests,
the opportunity for victims to report minor crime online.
A full copy of 'Criminal Justice – The Way Ahead' is available at: http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm50/5074/5074.pdf
Last update: Wednesday, August 13, 2008