Driving Change and Delivery in the Criminal Justice System
Joined-up IT
During SR 2004, the Modernising Technology Unit (formerly known as Criminal Justice Information Technology (CJIT)), created the CJS Exchange facility, which enables immediate electronic information sharingbetween the CJS partner agencies. In partnership, the CPS developed an interface to reduce the burden of inputting the same data into both police and CPS IT systems. Following the successful pilot between CMS and police IT system (NSPIS) in Humberside, the Exchange is now live across 11 Areas, with 18 Areas undergoing implementation. Rollout is scheduled for completion by December 2008.
During 2007/08 the CPS further enhanced the xCMS, which supports the Casework Divisions in more serious and complex cases, and has a secure electronic link to SOCA.
PROGRESS, the information system developed to ensure more effective case progression by all criminal justice agencies, was piloted in Manchester and Essex during 2007. A further pilot will be undertaken later in 2008, with a view to beginning rollout during 2009.
2008/09 will see the CPS continue to be a driving force for change through e-enabling technology that fully supports its priority programmes.
DGQP and the Streamlined Process
To reduce bureaucracy, the police and CPS have developed a Streamlined Process (SP) for simple cases in the magistrates’ courts. This provides a summary of evidence for the prosecution which reduces the burden of paperwork in the production of a prosecution file by the police. SP is a further development of the Director's Guidance Quick Process which was originally piloted in two CJS Areas in early 2007. The potential benefits arising out of these early schemes were endorsed by Sir Ronnie Flanagan in his review of policing. Further enhancements to the original scheme were devised and were approved on 12 December 2007 by the DPP. This revised approach, the Director's Guidance for the Streamlined Process, is being tested in seven local criminal justice areas: Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Humberside, London, Suffolk, Devon and Cornwall and Staffordshire. A preliminary evaluation of the guidance will take place after July 2008 followed by a more comprehensive evaluation in September 2008. It is anticipated that national rollout will take place in 2008/09.
Prolific and Priority Offenders
The CPS has continued to contribute at a national and local level during 2007/08 to deliver the Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) Programme throughout England and Wales. The CPS has worked closely with colleagues in the CJS, particularly with police partners, to bring to justice those PPOs who are causing the most harm to their communities as identified by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and Community Safety Partnerships. The CPS has focused on the ‘Catch and Convict’ strand of the strategy and continues to provide a premium service in terms of the preparation and presentation of cases involving such offenders.
Drug Interventions Programme
The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) involves the CPS, other criminal justice agencies and the National Treatment Agency working with drug treatment service providers to offer certain drug-misusing offenders a way out of crime and into treatment. The CPS has an important role in communicating drug test results to the court at bail and sentence hearings. CPS performance is monitored by using a proxy measure comparing Home Office figures for the number of drug tests carried out, to the number of DIP cases that have been identified.
The ‘Required Assessment’ provisions of the Drugs Act 2005 have now been implemented. Required assessment creates an opportunity for those testing positive for specified Class A drugs to engage with treatment and other support. Since April 2007, there are two required assessments: the initial and the follow up assessment. Criminal sanctions exist against those who fail to attend and remain for either assessment without good cause. The CPS worked closely with the Home Office concerning the introduction of the follow up assessment provision from April 2007.
National Crime Reduction Board; Gangs and Gun Crime; Reducing Re-offending
Police and CPS discussion at the National Crime Reduction Board
The National Crime Reduction Board (NCRB) is the key high-level forum for driving forward a coordinated, cross-government approach to crime reduction. Its role is to oversee and monitor delivery of the new Crime Strategy and, from April 2008, the new PSA ‘Make Communities Safer’. The Board, which met for the first time in October 2007, is chaired by the Home Secretary, and its membership includes the Attorney General. There is already a ministerial taskforce on guns and gangs, which is overseeing a Tackling Gangs Action Programme; and a ministerial sub-group on reducing re-offending. The CPS is supporting delivery of this evolving work.
