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The government’s £1.2bn court modernisation programme faces a ‘daunting challenge’, its spending watchdog has warned.
A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said the ‘ambitious reform programme’, which was already behind schedule and had been scaled back, was unlikely to achieve all of its aims in its extended timetable.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) estimates there will be a funding shortfall of £61m, assuming that the Treasury agrees that all previous years’ underspends can be carried forward. Without this agreement, the funding gap could be £177m.
The change programme to introduce new technology and working practices to reform and upgrade the justice system began in 2016. By March 2023, HMCTS expects to employ 5,000 fewer staff, hold 2.4 million fewer cases in physical courtrooms per year and reduce annual spending by £265m.
The timetable to complete the reforms has been extended from four to six years, but the NAO said that ‘delivering the reforms successfully remains extremely challenging’ and warned that ‘there is a significant risk that HMCTS will not be able to achieve all it wants within the time available’.
Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO said: ‘Modernising the justice system is an ambitious challenge. HMCTS has improved its approach, but overall it is behind where it expected to be and significant risks remain.’
The government’s £1.2bn court modernisation programme faces a ‘daunting challenge’, its spending watchdog has warned.
A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said the ‘ambitious reform programme’, which was already behind schedule and had been scaled back, was unlikely to achieve all of its aims in its extended timetable.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) estimates there will be a funding shortfall of £61m, assuming that the Treasury agrees that all previous years’ underspends can be carried forward. Without this agreement, the funding gap could be £177m.
The change programme to introduce new technology and working practices to reform and upgrade the justice system began in 2016. By March 2023, HMCTS expects to employ 5,000 fewer staff, hold 2.4 million fewer cases in physical courtrooms per year and reduce annual spending by £265m.
The timetable to complete the reforms has been extended from four to six years, but the NAO said that ‘delivering the reforms successfully remains extremely challenging’ and warned that ‘there is a significant risk that HMCTS will not be able to achieve all it wants within the time available’.
Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO said: ‘Modernising the justice system is an ambitious challenge. HMCTS has improved its approach, but overall it is behind where it expected to be and significant risks remain.’
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
