HM Courts Service intends to change workflow processes across the country to match those piloted in four courts since 2006, which resulted in a 70% reduction in interim hearings and 30% more people pleading guilty at first hearing.


The Courts Services' second annual report, published last week, indicated that the relatively new set-up has scored some successes. Most trumpeted are the results of the pilot schemes in West Camberwell, Coventry, Thames and West Cumbria, which are aimed at better information-sharing between relevant bodies, such as criminal justice boards.



The pilots have also seen 59% more people who pleaded guilty sentenced at first hearing and nearly a quarter more cases where defendants entered any plea, the report said. The Courts Service now intends to operate the improved workflow processes in all courts.



Improvements have come from better prosecution preparation in terms of earlier sharing of key pieces of evidence, earlier information for defence solicitors, and attempts to make first hearings more effective, mainly by allowing district judges and legal advisers to read papers in advance of a first hearing.



But while one joined-up justice scheme is taking off, another is struggling. The development of the National Offender Management Service's IT project for joining up prisons and the Probation Service with unified risk assessment, C-NOMIS, has been put on hold following revelations that its cost had already reached £155 million excluding VAT.



The Ministry of Justice said a review of the project was due to finish 'in the autumn'.



Rupert White