Her Majesty's Courts Service is launched

On 18 March 2005 some 600 staff from across Her Majesty's Courts Service took part in the official launch at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The launch was attended by Her Majesty the Queen, who accepted from the Chief Executive Sir Ron De Witt a scroll to mark the creation of the agency.

The Queen was accompanied by Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, who talked of the launch of the agency as an historic event:

"It is highly significant that the new organisation is indeed Her Majesty's Courts Service.  The effective delivery of real justice is one of the defining characteristics of the modern, civilised society that we enjoy in Britain.

If we are a victim of a crime, the offender will be prosecuted in the name of the monarch.  This is no mere convention - it signifies the commitment of the state to bring offenders to justice for the benefit of the whole of society," he said.  

Lord Falconer identified one person who has been pivotal in the creation of the new agency: "I am pleased that Lord Justice Auld, whose review in 2001 recommended a unified criminal court, can be here today.  He is in many respects the architect of Her Majesty's Courts Service."  He also paid tribute to the many people who had brought about the establishment of the agency but weren't able to be at the launch.

When presenting the scroll to The Queen, Sir Ron De Witt said,  "There is a clear symbolic link between the sovereign and the task of administering justice. The courts are the Queen's courts, judges are Her Majesty's judges and serious criminal cases are tried in the Crown Court.

"We feel privileged that you have honoured us with your presence here today to help us mark the establishment of Her Majesty's Courts Service."

Following the speeches the Queen then toured the Great Hall talking to staff from all over the country about their jobs.