This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/may/09/moj-delays-and-spiralling-costs-hamper-digital-courts-project-wtachdog
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Delays and spiralling costs hamper MoJ's digital courts project | Delays and spiralling costs hamper MoJ's digital courts project |
| (7 months later) | |
| A £1bn modernisation programme of the UK’s justice system is facing a “daunting challenge” after falling behind schedule and overrunning costs, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog. | A £1bn modernisation programme of the UK’s justice system is facing a “daunting challenge” after falling behind schedule and overrunning costs, according to Whitehall’s spending watchdog. |
| The National Audit Office has found that the changes being rolled out by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), an agency of the Ministry of Justice, are behind schedule and facing funding gaps. Costs have already risen by £200m to £1.2bn, auditors found. | The National Audit Office has found that the changes being rolled out by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), an agency of the Ministry of Justice, are behind schedule and facing funding gaps. Costs have already risen by £200m to £1.2bn, auditors found. |
| A report, released on Wednesday, comes as the MoJ needs to reduce its annual spending by £500m from 2015-16 levels by 2019-20 to meet the commitments in the 2015 spending review. | A report, released on Wednesday, comes as the MoJ needs to reduce its annual spending by £500m from 2015-16 levels by 2019-20 to meet the commitments in the 2015 spending review. |
| The justice secretary, David Gauke, recently appointed Tim Parker, a former boss of Kwik-Fit and the AA, as chair of its board. | The justice secretary, David Gauke, recently appointed Tim Parker, a former boss of Kwik-Fit and the AA, as chair of its board. |
| Auditors believe the modernisation plans are “extremely challenging” and there is a significant risk that HMCTS will not be able to achieve all it wants within the time available. | Auditors believe the modernisation plans are “extremely challenging” and there is a significant risk that HMCTS will not be able to achieve all it wants within the time available. |
| Log in, break up – new ‘easy’ way to get a divorce online | |
| Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said: “The Ministry of Justice is seeking to modernise our justice system but needs to be clear about which of the promised benefits it will actually be able to deliver.” | Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said: “The Ministry of Justice is seeking to modernise our justice system but needs to be clear about which of the promised benefits it will actually be able to deliver.” |
| In 2016, HMCTS set up a portfolio of change programmes to introduce new technology and working practices to modernise and upgrade the justice system. | In 2016, HMCTS set up a portfolio of change programmes to introduce new technology and working practices to modernise and upgrade the justice system. |
| The aim, by 2023, was to employ 5,000 fewer staff, reduce the number of cases held in physical courtrooms by 2.4m a year and reduce annual spending by £265m. | The aim, by 2023, was to employ 5,000 fewer staff, reduce the number of cases held in physical courtrooms by 2.4m a year and reduce annual spending by £265m. |
| The NAO’s assessment of the progress of the project found the body faces a “daunting challenge” in delivering the scale of technological and cultural change necessary. | The NAO’s assessment of the progress of the project found the body faces a “daunting challenge” in delivering the scale of technological and cultural change necessary. |
| The report said: “Given the extent of changes planned, there is a very significant risk that, despite the best efforts of HMCTS and other parties, the full ambition of the change portfolio will prove to be undeliverable in the time available.” | The report said: “Given the extent of changes planned, there is a very significant risk that, despite the best efforts of HMCTS and other parties, the full ambition of the change portfolio will prove to be undeliverable in the time available.” |
| The modernisation programme will see an increase in the use of “virtual hearings” in criminal cases, with judges and magistrates dealing with defendants from a police station or prison using a video link. | The modernisation programme will see an increase in the use of “virtual hearings” in criminal cases, with judges and magistrates dealing with defendants from a police station or prison using a video link. |
| Accused individuals will be able to enter pleas online, removing the need for pre-trial hearings, while vulnerable witnesses will be allowed to give pre-recorded evidence rather than appear in court. | Accused individuals will be able to enter pleas online, removing the need for pre-trial hearings, while vulnerable witnesses will be allowed to give pre-recorded evidence rather than appear in court. |
| In lower-level cases, such as TV licence evasion, the reforms aim to allow the entire process to be completed on the internet. | In lower-level cases, such as TV licence evasion, the reforms aim to allow the entire process to be completed on the internet. |
| Technology will also be at the forefront of efforts to reduce the number of cases requiring a physical hearing in the civil and family courts and tribunals. | Technology will also be at the forefront of efforts to reduce the number of cases requiring a physical hearing in the civil and family courts and tribunals. |
| MoJ spending huge sums on consultants to help deliver digital courts | |
| The NAO said delivering the reforms successfully remains “extremely challenging”. | The NAO said delivering the reforms successfully remains “extremely challenging”. |
| Officials estimate there will be a funding shortfall of £61m in future years, assuming that the Treasury agrees that all previous years’ under-spends can be carried forward. Without this agreement, the gap could be £177m. | Officials estimate there will be a funding shortfall of £61m in future years, assuming that the Treasury agrees that all previous years’ under-spends can be carried forward. Without this agreement, the gap could be £177m. |
| The MoJ completed the first stage of the reforms in September 2017, but has made less progress overall than it had expected to at this stage, according to auditors. | The MoJ completed the first stage of the reforms in September 2017, but has made less progress overall than it had expected to at this stage, according to auditors. |
| Penelope Gibbs, director of the organisation Transform Justice, said: “Its hard not to see the government’s digital court reform programme as designed more in hope than expectation. No one denies the courts need to be more efficient but this programme seems over-ambitious and based on flawed assumptions.” | Penelope Gibbs, director of the organisation Transform Justice, said: “Its hard not to see the government’s digital court reform programme as designed more in hope than expectation. No one denies the courts need to be more efficient but this programme seems over-ambitious and based on flawed assumptions.” |
| Susan Acland-Hood, chief executive of HMCTS, welcomed the report as “helpful and constructive”. | Susan Acland-Hood, chief executive of HMCTS, welcomed the report as “helpful and constructive”. |
| “We are confident that the current six-year programme is on track to deliver the benefits promised on completion and, in doing so, help create a better, more straightforward, accessible and efficient justice system for all who use and need it,” she said. | “We are confident that the current six-year programme is on track to deliver the benefits promised on completion and, in doing so, help create a better, more straightforward, accessible and efficient justice system for all who use and need it,” she said. |
| UK criminal justice | UK criminal justice |
| Public finance | Public finance |
| Judiciary | Judiciary |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |