Reducing Rad Tape and Bureaucracy in the Criminal Justice System
Making a Difference
Summary of Measures: Target date for action
An Incident or Encounter Involving The Police (page 9)
1. Police Incident Paperwork (section 1.1) This measure benefits the Police
The Police Forms Editorial Board will be established to promote the adoption of simplified forms. Revised forms will be disseminated to forces: From June 2003
The Police Editorial Board will remain committed to continually issue updated, streamlined forms and undertake other measures to achieve reductions in bureaucracy: On-going
Police Officers will no longer be required to complete the Notification of Stolen Vehicle Form:(completed)
A simplified version of Phoenix form will be promoted nationally by the Policing Bureaucracy Task Force: August 2003
The three forms for investigating nuisance and malicious telephone calls will be merged to reduce duplication: August 2003
A single Crime Report Form will be developed to reduce duplication between the three forms currently in common usage: August 2003
The Police Forms Editorial Board will promote the use of a new form that combines the Vehicle Defect Rectification Notices and HO/RT1 forms to reduce duplication: Summer 2003
The phased implementation of the Stop and Search form will take place following pilots of various versions to be undertaken in forces nation-wide onwards: April 2003
The National Missing Persons Form will be standardised and made available as a national form: May 2003
The Road Traffic Collision report will be standardised and made available as a national form: January 2005
The Notification of Sudden Death form is awaiting the outcome of the LUCE Report before being standardised: Spring 2004
The Record of Premises Searched form will be standardised and made available as a national form: August 2003
National standards will be issued for the Staff Personal Development Review/Appraisal form: April 2003 (completed)
2. Regulation of Police Work: the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (section 1.2) This measure benefits the Police
New PACE codes reflecting a number of the Review's recommendations will be implemented: April 2003(completed)
Work to pave the way for further changes to both PACE related legislation and the Codes ofPractice is underway: On-going
3. Fixed Penalty Notices (section 1.3) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
The fixed penalty system will be extended for use in dealing with minor street crime. Pilots will take place in four police areas and will be completed this summer: Summer 2003
An assessment of the suitability of TV licence evasion as a fixed penalty offence will be undertaken: Summer 2003
A review of further offences that might be suitable for adding to the fixed penalty scheme will be undertaken: During 2003
Measures in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill currently before Parliament will seek to extend thepower to issue penalty notices for specified disorder offences. Pilots for the proposed system will be undertaken: January 2004
Full roll out of the system to extend the power to issue penalty notices will take place if initial pilots are successful: Spring 2005
4. The Summons Process (section 1.4) This measure benefits the Police and the Courts
All prosecutions commenced by public prosecutors will be by charge. Documents issued
by police will be without reference to the courts. Changes necessary to enable this announced following approval of the CJ Bill will be included in the Criminal Justice Bill currently before Parliament approval of the CJ Bill: Implementation date to be announced following approval of the CJ Bill
Preparing for Court (page 17)
5. Improving Police and CPS Interface (section 2.1) This measure benefits the Police and The CPS
The CPS and Police will establish a flexible model for joint administration. In the first instance a scoping project will be launched: Sept 2002 onwards
6. Building Prosecution Files (section 2.2) This measure benefits the Police and The CPS
The Manual of Guidance will be revised to extend the circumstances under which case summaries are required: (completed) February 2003
The CPS will no longer need to enter names and addresses of witnesses required at court following a project to remove the duplication of the information between the Witness List for Warning and the MG 9 forms: December 2003
The 2002 edition of the Manual of Guidance will include an amendment to prevent the opportunity to overlook compensation to be paid by the defendant: February 2002(completed)
A newly formed Minor Processes Sub-Group will seek out good practice and design a national minor processes form to be included in the 2004 Manual of Guidance: Autumn 2004
A pilot scheme for the new simplified minor processes form will take place: Summer 2003
The new national minor process form will be quality assessed by the Manual of Guidance Editorial Champions at their annual seminar and then issued: Autumn 2004
7. Statements from Hospital Doctors (section 2.3) This measure benefits the Police
A national protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers, CPS and the British Association of Emergency Medicine to define standards for obtaining medical statements from Accident and Emergency Departments will be circulated: January 2002
(completed)
Complete implementation of the above protocol, or equivalent local service agreements, will be completed in all national police areas: December 2003
8. Forensic Evidence (section 2.4) This measure benefits the Police
A national protocol between Forensic Science Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers will be revised and a project team launched: Autumn 2003
9. Scheduling Court Hearings (section 2.5) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
An investigation into ways to solve the problems associated with listing will take place and a final report published: October 2003
10. CPS Circulars (section 2.6) This measure benefits The CPS
CPS will undertake a broad review of their internal communications strategy: Spring 2003
11. CPS Working Groups and Meeting Structures (section 2.7) This measure benefits The CPS
CPS will review a number of its working groups and consider their roles which will culminate in the publication of a central project list accessible via The CPS Intranet: Spring 2003
Findings of the review will be discussed by The CPS Board and any changes will implemented: Autumn 2003
12. Inspection (section 2.8) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
A CJS Review of Inspection will be established to consider how the requirement for a ‘tough new inspection regime' can be met: June 2003
13. CPS Brief for Counsel (section 2.9) This measure benefits The CPS
A new Casework Quality Assurance Scheme will be implemented nationally: April 2003
(completed)
14. Access to Legislative Rules and Procedures (section 2.10) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
Steps towards codification will be taken including the establishment of an electronic database of statute law allowing access to criminal law provisions in place: Spring 2004
15. Case Preparation: Being Ready for Court (section 2.11) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
The Case Preparation Project will consider ways to improve case preparation and management within the criminal courts: onwards April 2002
The Case Preparation Project will pilot new processes and the development of supporting enablers in seven criminal justice areas: onwards April 2003
Implementation and roll out of the pilots will be considered in tandem with proposed legislative reforms: From April 2004
16. Exchanging Information (section 2.12) This measure benefits the Police The CPS and the courts
Following the establishment of the CJS IT programme, a new plan will be published to enable practitioners and other partners to work together more effectively: July 2003
17. Storage for 'SCOPE' IT System Printouts (section 2.13) This measure benefits The CPS
CPS will replace the SCOPE system through their COMPASS IT Case Management System to be rolled out in London: May 2003 – October 2003
Complete roll-out the COMPASS IT Case Management System across England and Wales will follow roll-out in London: March 2004
A revised list of SCOPE reports and their retention instructions will be issued to the SCOPE administrative managers at each CPS site: April 2003 (completed)
Prosecution (page 32)
18. The Powers of Designated Caseworkers (section 3.1) This measure benefits The CPS
The extension of the remit of Designated Caseworkers and the role of The CPS Higher Court Advocates will be considered by a new Advocacy Strategy Group through consultation: From September 2003
Following the above consultation, any changes approved by the Attorney General will be implemented through a rolling training programme: From February 2004
19. The Production of Prisoners at Court (section 3.2) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
Prisoners will be able to take part in intermediate court hearings using video links to be installed in 57 local and remand prisons and 159 Magistrates Courts and Manchester Crown Court: September 2002 (completed)
Video links will be installed in a further 28 Crown Courts December 2003
HM Prison Service will look at guidance issued for the production of prisoners to court in criminal proceedings with a view to reissuing a unified Prison Service Order: April 2003
A new generation of prisoner escort contracts will be prepared: April 2004
20. The Disclosure of Prosecution Material to the Defence (section 3.3) This measure benefits the Police and The CPS
Revised joint guidance for police and CPS will be issued as part of a series of measures to improve the disclosure process: December 2002 (completed)
Police and CPS training, based on the new guidance (above), will be implemented: April 2003 onwards
Improvements in prosecution disclosure will be assisted by closer co-operation between the police and The CPS through the new charging arrangements: From April 2003
Prosecution counsel will play a more active role in advising on and challenging the adequacy of the defence statement: Implementation date to be announced following approval of the CJ Bill
Judiciaries will be equipped with the right case management skills to take a robust line at preliminary hearings as part of the Case Preparation Project :See, 15. Case Preparation: Being Ready for Court (section 2.11)
Further measures to improve the disclosure process will be included in the Criminal Justice Bill currently being considered by Parliament: Implementation date to be announced following approval of the CJ Bill
21. Guilty Pleas (section 3.4) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts
Defendants will be provided with an entitlement to ask the judge for an indication of the maximum sentence, following a guilty plea: December 2003
New arrangements in the CJ Bill currently before Parliament will determine whether defendants can ask in a summary trial if a custodial sentence is likely: April 2005
22. Protecting Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses (section 3.5) This measure benefits The CPS
Police, CPS and courts will receive guidance and training so that risk assessments are done earlier on in the process to identify eligible witnesses: Autumn 2003
Police and CPS will hold an early special measures meeting to identify vulnerable or intimidated witnesses and then apply for a Special Measures Direction Hearing: July 2002 onwards
CPS and police will pilot a case management approach to witness care and lessons will be disseminated: Autumn 2003 onwards
A research project to evaluate the effectiveness of special measures and associated provisions introduced by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act will be commissioned. A report based on findings will be published: April 2004
23. Penalties for Wasting Court Time (section 3.6) This measure benefits the courts
The Case Preparation Project will seek to introduce an improved performance management framework for all parties involved in criminal cases: Being Ready for Court: See, 15. Case Preparation:(section 2.11)
24. Paying Prosecution Counsel (section 3.7) This measure benefits The CPS
CPS will set up a user group of operational staff involved in processing claims from the Prosecution Counsel. Three initial meetings have been scheduled: July, October and February 2002 (completed)
The above user group of operational staff will continue to meet initially every three months to oversee the implementation of the scheme: Ongoing
The Graduated Fee Scheme will be reviewed to see if it can be usefully simplified. A new CPS accounts system will then be implemented in two phases: October 2003 and April 2004
25. Recovering Defence Costs (section 3.8) This measure benefits the Courts
The system of recovering defence costs will be reviewed by the Lord Chancellor's Department: April 2003 onwards
Following the above review, a report will be submitted to the Lord Chancellor and guidance issued to all courts: Spring 2003 (completed)
The Lord Chancellor's Department will look at ways to ensure that judges consider Recovery of Defence Cost Orders in all appropriate cases: Summer 2003
Post Verdict Processes (page 42)
26. Crown Court Orders (section 4.1) This measure benefits the Courts
The Court Service will review all Crown Court order forms to reduce and simplify them and also to introduce user friendly guidance. The most commonly used forms will be re-issued: December 2003
The pilot programme for XHIBIT (Exchanging Hearing Information by Information Technology) will be extended to Snaresbrook Crown Court following pilots at other courts: June 2003
A further programme to enable court staff to complete and update the most commonly used court order forms using technology available with XHIBIT will be completed: June 2003
27. Enforcement of Magistrates' Courts Warrants (section 4.2) This measure benefits the Courts
The Lord Chancellors' Department will establish a Criminal Enforcement Policy Advisory Group (CEPAG) to improve performance in fine enforcement and develop a programme of work to build on achievements already made: July 2002 (completed)
The Lord Chancellor's department will agree protocols with other government agencies for information sharing schemes: Summer 2004
The Police Information Technology Organisation will approve in principle to the establishment of a national policy to allow Magistrates' Courts access to information held by police for enforcement purposes: May 2002 (completed)
Further work to consider security and IT issues to identify information access solutions will be undertaken by a Police National Computer working group: During 2003
CEPAG will work closely with the Magistrates' Courts to take forward work leading to the implementation of the transfer of warrant execution project: Ongoing
The Association of Justices Chief Executives will establish its own Enforcement Forum: Summer 2002 (ongoing)
A trial to allow courts to bid for additional resources will be undertaken and increased funds will made available through the netting of fines: April 2002 – April 2004
28. Prisoners with Outstanding Fines (section 4.3) This measure benefits the Courts
Form 986 will be revised and re-designed for issue to all prison establishments with comprehensive instructions for its completion, following approval by the Operational Policy Group: May 2003
29. Performance Monitoring and Management Information (section 4.4) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts.
A new National Criminal Justice Board, responsible for overall criminal justice system delivery, will be established and supported by 42 local Criminal Justice Boards: April 2003 onwards
Local Criminal Justice Boards will be supported through the recruitment of 42 Performance Officers and the development of a Management Information System: April 2003
A cross organisational targets initiative to encourage joint working will be introduced for a number of criminal justice system-wide targets: April 2003 onward
Local Criminal Justice Boards will restrict their work to shared CJS targets to reduce problems associated with mismatched accountabilities for delivery: 2003-2004
30. Expenditure within Magistrates' Courts Committees (section 4.5) This measure benefits the Courts.
Magistrates' courts will have more freedom and flexibility to manage their own building projects through a system that requires less interaction with the Court Service: April (completed)
31. Improving Implementation of New Policy Initiatives (section 4.6) This measure benefits the Police, The CPS and the Courts.
The Policy Effects Framework will be implemented by all Home Office stakeholders concerned with drafting and implementing new policy decisions: Ongoing
