Court Service Plans 2000 -2003

The Crown Court

Workload

Plea before venue cases, where a defendant indicates a plea of guilty before it is decided if sentencing will take place in the magistrates' court of Crown Court (introduced in October 1997), has caused a reduction in forecast net committal for trial receipts of about 13,000 cases and a corresponding increase in cases for sentence.

The Narey proposal, that indictable only cases should be sent direct to the Crown Court without committal proceedings in the magistrates´ courts, has been piloted. If our evaluation of the results show that the scheme is beneficial, it is likely to be rolled-out across the country. This will increase the number of hearings per case in committals for trial and increase the workload of the Crown Court.

Closer monitoring of cases involving youths, in particular persistent young offenders, has shown that the Crown Court has a significant role to play in the youth justice system. Efforts will continue, in co-operation with the Youth Justice Board, to ensure that the Crown Court plays its part in achieving the Government´s pledge to speed up youth justice.

The Human Rights Act 1998, which will be implemented in October 2000, may increase committals for trial in the Crown Court as fewer defendants are expected to enter guilty pleas in the magistrates court. There will also be an increase in the number of appeals. In addition, hearing times for appeals and trials are predicted to increase due to extra points being raised relating to the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Mode of Trial Modification Bill, when enacted, is likely to reduce the number of committals for trial. This is due to certain triable either way cases remaining in the magistrates´ courts reducing the committals for trial. Some defendants, however, will appeal against the magistrates´ decision to retain jurisdiction leading to an increase in the number of appeals.

A total of just over 89,400 sitting days are likely to be sat in 1999-2000, which is expected to result in the number of outstanding committals for trial being about 24,000 by the end of the financial year.

Sitting days for the 2000-2001 year have been set at 93,000, which means that the number of outstanding cases is likely to be around 27,600 at the end of March 2001. Sitting days will increase in 2001 ­ 02 to take account of the effect of the Crime and Disorder Act, Mode of Trial Modification Bill and the Human Rights Act 1998.

During the first quarter of 2000, we will evaluate the pilot of the new Jury Summoning and Management System. If successful, we will begin to implement the system in the second quarter of 2000, with all courts live by the end of the third quarter. Further measures to address workload pressures will be considered under our Crown Court Programme.

During the coming year, the National Taxing Team will focus on standardising procedures for processing claims, and will work toward improving links with Crown Court centres. The POLAR IT system, implemented in March 2000, will increase efficiency and improve the standard of service offered to the professions. The system will be extended during the coming year to provide detailed management information on Legal Aid expenditure.

Resources (including capital charge on accommodation)

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