Jack Straw: new virtual courts launched and intensive Community Payback extended
12 May 2009
The first virtual court pilot scheme and an extension of intensive Community Payback have today been announced by the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Jack Straw to ensure a speedier and more effective justice system.
Speaking at the first Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership conference, the Prime Minister announced these initiatives as part of a new crime strategy setting out the action the government will take to respond to the crime challenges we now face.
The Virtual Courts scheme will involve defendants having their cases heard at a magistrates’ court, via secure video link from a police station, within hours of being charged and, if a defendant pleads guilty, could see sentencing handed down on the same day.
Building on the government’s recent success in cutting by a fifth the number of days between a charge being brought and the case being concluded, the pilot could save £2.2 million over the coming year, with a potential roll out across England and Wales delivering benefits in excess of £10 million a year, as well freeing up police and magistrates’ courts time and making important improvements to the service given to victims and witnesses.
Alongside this, the use of intensive Community Payback will be extended to even more unemployed offenders across England and Wales where they will have to carry out demanding work for at least 18 hours a week. This will ensure a significant loss of liberty and free time for more offenders, who must now wear branded orange jackets so the public can see that justice is being done.
Mr Straw said:
‘The government is committed to ensuring a swift, fair and effective justice system that is seen to work for all. Since 1997 crime has fallen by almost 40%, serious and dangerous criminals are more likely to go to prison, and stay there for longer, and people’s chances of being a victim of crime are the lowest since records began in 1981. Today’s announcements will help us build on these important improvements.
‘Virtual Courts are exciting as they have the potential to transform how the justice system deals with crimes. Cases will be resolved more quickly, improving the service given to victims, witnesses and defendants, and justice will be faster and more efficient, without any loss of quality.
‘Community Payback is a key part of our justice system, providing demanding punishment for offenders and ensuring people can see what offenders are doing in their neighbourhoods to repay the wrongs they have committed. Ensuring more offenders carry out this punishment intensively for at least 18 hours a week will ensure further loss of liberty and a strong warning for those who break the law.’
Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey said:
‘The public want to know that criminals face tough consequences for their crimes. The further roll out of intensive Community Payback as recommended in my review last year is giving the public what they want. Community Payback schemes are not only demanding, hard work but also give the public a say in what criminals must actually do to serve their punishment and pay back to local communities.’
The one-year Virtual Courts pilot, launched today, will initially link Charing Cross Police Station in central London to Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court, with a further 14 police stations across London to join the pilot in the summer. A second pilot will run in North Kent from mid-June.
As well as speeding up the delivery of justice, the Virtual Courts pilot will have a number of other benefits including:
- a reduction in delays caused by defendants failing to turn up to hearings and paperwork not being available
- freeing up police time and enable courts to hear more cases
- reducing prisoner movements, saving money on transport costs and reducing the risk of prisoners absconding.
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, sponsor of the London Criminal Justice Board said:
‘Although the virtual courts project was set in train before the current economic difficulties its potential for an efficient first stage in the life of a court case – backed by thorough safeguards – is more relevant than ever.’
Andrew Morley, Chief Executive of the London Criminal Justice Board, which is coordinating the London pilot, said:
‘The London Criminal Justice Board is committed to testing new ways of improving the public’s experience of the criminal justice system by improving the timeliness and efficiency of the process. We have shown previously through a successful prototype that the technology makes it possible for the court to deal with first appearances over a video link from the police station, and are confident that the pilot will demonstrate significant benefits in terms of efficiency, victim satisfaction and confidence.’
Notes to editors
- This pilot follows the success of a 12 week prototype study in July 2007 that was hosted by Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court, South London. That prototype study demonstrated that both custody and bail first hearings could take place in a single day with an average time of three and a half hours.
- Other London Police Stations joining the pilot are Brixton, Kennington, Streatham, Peckham, Walworth, Lewisham, Plumstead, Bromley, Croydon, South Norwood, Sutton, Paddington Green, Belgravia, Bexleyheath. An estimated 15,000 cases are expected to be dealt with using the Virtual Court during the one-year pilot.
- A second pilot site in North Kent will launch in June 2009 so that the Virtual Court concept can be tested in areas with different characteristics.
- During the hearing the Virtual Court will sit at both the court and police station. The defendant will be online at the police station, with the magistrates or district judge, legal adviser, Crown Prosecution Service and probation service based at the court. The defendant’s solicitor can be either at the police station or court. The public will be able to see the defendant on a screen within the court. Defendants will still have access to confidential legal advice and a system of safeguards will be in place to ensure those with mental health or learning difficulties and vulnerable defendants' rights are protected. If the magistrates or a district judge feel that the process is unsuitable for a particular case they can terminate proceedings at any stage and refer the case for a standard court hearing.
- Details of intensive Community Payback can be found on page 63 of the Engaging Communities in Criminal Justice Green Paper.
- The time intervals for criminal proceedings in magistrates’ courts statistics show a reduction in the number of days from charge to disposal by over 20% (from 61 days in March 2007 to 48 days in December 2008) and reduced the average number of hearings by over 20%.
- The government has also reduced the level of ineffective trials in the magistrates’ courts by over a third (from over 30% in 2002-3 to 18.6% in 2008-09). An ineffective trial is a trial which cannot go ahead on the date set. This may be for a range of reasons, eg. due to witness non-attendance, a lack of Crown Prosecution Service or defence readiness, or lack of court time.
- For further information contact the Ministry of Justice Newsdesk on 020 3334 3536.