Call to rescue 'fragmented' criminal justice system

Wednesday, 3 November 2010 12:01 AM

By Peter Wozniak

Years of adding layers of legislation to the criminal justice system have left it bloated, bureaucratic and in dire need of reform, according to a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

The report found that current rules meant cases being bogged down before coming to court, with late guilty pleas, inefficient use of police resources and a regulatory system which "stifles innovation".

Dru Sharpling, HM Inspector of Constabulary warned that with spending cuts on the way, "there will not be enough capacity in the system to sustain the service without reform.

"There has been much talk about this in the past - and, it has to be said, many reports. The budget cuts create an imperative to tackle this now."

HMIC called for dramatic improvements in forces sharing information and data to prevent duplication that can mean vast stretches of time passing before cases can progress.

It claimed £70 million could be saved by pooling administration between police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The report also called for police to better explain to the public why many offenders do not end up in court but are given cautions, warnings penalty notices - which have increased by 135% over five years.

Much greater emphasis ought to be placed on police providing key information to prosecutors to quickly, the report concluded, while greater leadership was demanded from the national operations board to co-ordinate the various criminal justice agencies.

Dru Sharpling added: "It is time to show collective leadership across the CJS to reform what no doubt looks to the public like a fragmented and bureaucratic system."

Police forces are facing roughly 20% cuts in the spending review measures, with the impetus for reform being driven by the need to make savings without sacrificing large numbers of frontline officers.

HMIC argued much of the problem stemmed from a structure that sees no-one in firm overall authority of police procedures, with forces taking steps to begin schemes that could save money "stifled" from doing so by an over-bearing bureaucracy.

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