Courts: Digital Technology

The Government recognises that digital case management systems are an important enabler of court efficiency. Throughout England and Wales, HMCTS has introduced digital services and case management systems across the criminal, civil and family court jurisdictions and replaced many paper-based processes and improving case progression. In the criminal courts, Common Platform provides a single digital case management system used by HMCTS, the judiciary and criminal justice partners. The Government continues to invest in the stability and functional improvement of these systems so that they support the efficient and effective administration of justice.

Better HMCTS digital services also support the efficient work of other criminal justice partners. For example, the Probation Service is rolling out Prepare a Case for Sentence (PACfS) for probation staff working in magistrates’ courts across England and Wales, which draws on data from Common Platform to support early identification and preparation for cases likely to require a pre-sentence report.

The Government is grateful to Sir Brian Leveson and his panel of expert advisers for their Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, which made 180 recommendations aiming to reform the criminal justice system and drive improvements to efficiency. We are carefully considering the recommendations from Sir Brian’s review and will respond in due course.