The London plan

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A programme for reform and change 2007/09

• The London plan

28th February 2007
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1. We start in 2007 from a position of strength

• Our performance against most targets has
  significantly improved

We also have a stronger Board Advisory Group
support team An effective response to the PMDU
review has been demonstrated (inc. timeliness)
But we want and need to do more..

• The need for change
• All agencies face significant budgetary
  reductions in the next two years
• Increasing pressure on prisons and probation
• Improving crime and safety is top priority for
  improvement for 47 of Londoners (MORI)

The will for change All agencies want to make a
difference London CJB wants
to lead the way
The capability to change London CJB has proved
it can deliver
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2. Our aim
What Londons criminal justice service will look
like in 2009
Key themes

• Diversion of simple cases away from court
• Improved case preparation at the outset
• Virtual courts implemented across London
• Integrated Prosecution Teams to reduce
  duplication
• Reduced running costs

Delivering a quicker service

• Vision and why?
• Themes

Keeping it simple

• Consistent file content
• Proportionate file preparation for cases
• Reduce duplication of data entry
• Always use clear language

Supporting the public
Londons Criminal Justice Service

• Exceed the Victims Code
• Implement the Witness Charter
• Highest public confidence in the country

Making people safer

• Strengthen links with CDRPs and local
  authorities
• Strengthen MAPPA
• A consistent risk assessment process across all
  agencies
• All CJS partners actively engaged in community
  justice

Looking to the future - youth

• Radical reform of youth strategy
• Greater use of community/restorative justice
• Young people understand what happened to them in
  court
• More joined up youth diversion strategy

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3. We will deliver a co-ordinated and ambitious
reform programme for London

• We will improve services to the public,
  particularly victims and witnesses.
• Increased involvement of all agencies in
  addressing public protection.
• We will engage effectively with communities with
  a renewed focus on youth issues.
• This will be supported by
• Taking the first steps towards a CJS-wide estates
  strategy.
• Shared training and potentially shared functions,
  or functions conducted by one agency on behalf of
  another.
• Staff to feel they are working for Londons
  criminal justice service.
• Resolving IT barriers to enable joined-up
  processes.
• Pooling resources wherever possible and
  developing a mechanism for sharing efficiency
  savings.
• As a Board, acting together in leading,
  anticipating and responding to the needs of
  London.

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4. Presenting Londons project portfolio
There are 21 cross-agency projects in Londons
portfolio. This excludes the range of
agency-specific and Borough level activity in
place.

• The matrix shows that each of the projects
  contribute to a number of the themes contained in
  our 2007-09 vision.

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5. Our priority will be a programme to speed up
and simplify the system, delivering the ambition
of the CJSSS
Delivering the ambition of CJSSS (and more)




1. Case Build Project
2. Integrated Prosecution Teams
3. Virtual Courts
4. Speedier court hearings
3a. What is it? Virtual courts' using video
conferencing technology, which will link police
stations to courts. Will allow defendants to be
heard at court from police stations shortly after
charge, enabling some cases to be disposed of in
a matter of hours. Links police and courts
through video conferencing technology. Delivers
speedier justice and increases number of early
guilty pleas. Reduces cost. 3b. Where and when?
Prototype being developed for four custody
suites feeding into one court centre. To begin in
April 07 and roll-out in conjunction with IPT.

• 2a. What is it?
• Police and CPS to process single file and be
  collocated in all boroughs.
• Delivers speedier justice and reduces the amount
  of remedial work required post-charge. Will
  release police posts.
• Intended to realign the traditional role of the
  MPS Case Clerk to Case Progression Units to build
  a case file.
• 2b. Where and when?
• Three pilot sites in Waltham Forest, Tower
  Hamlets and Hackney with full roll out by April
  2008.

4a. What is it? Part of the overall Criminal
Justice Simple, Speedy, Summary
review. Streamlining processes to reduce no of
hearings, ensure that it deals speedily and
effectively with low-level crime whilst at the
same time having the ability to manage more
complex serious criminal cases. 4b. Where and
when? Camberwell, Thames and Balham before March
07. Full rollout by April 08.

• 1a. What is it?
• Streamline case files.
• Ensure consistent use across London.
• Delivers speedier justice and reduces waste.
• Aim to implement in advance of IPT and virtual
  courts.

CJSSS Criminal Justice, Simple, Speedy Summary
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6. Other key programmes that we will deliver over
the next two to three years
Community Justice
National priorities that London will be in the
forefront of delivering

• What is it?
• London already has significant community
  engagement through safer neighbourhoods and
  citizen panels. We will build on these links and
  widen to all CJS partners, to increase confidence
  in community schemes (such as payback), divert
  people from court, focus on youth issues and
  increase visibility. The Probation Service is to
  test the benefits of joining the Neighbourhood
  teams. We will develop a range of projects
  covering community concerns, as defined locally.
• When and how?
• Agreed to begin this in three boroughs most
  likely Newham, Wandsworth and one other.

1. Foreign National Prisoners Aim is to improve
the identification of foreign nationals within
the CJS and to ensure therefore that the right
FNPs are deported as early on as possible in
their sentence.  Pilot will begin in January 07
and run for a year with a view to any national
roll-out taking place in 2008. We will also look
at ways in which a single identifier linking
nationality and identity information for those
passing through the CJS, might work.
2. IPAP Seeks to improve prisoner availability
through increasing the use of prisoner video
links (test areas in Dorset, London and West
Midlands), through legislation and through
reviewing the transport arrangements of prisoners
and their property. For the first, findings from
the test area will inform national roll-out. We
will look to combine with the Virtual Courts
projects. Targets for reduction in the Prisoner
Escort Service movement by test areas by Feb 07.
Supporting victims and witnesses
2. Exceed Victims Code of Practice We will ensure
we provide an immediate and practical support
package tailored to victims needs.
3 Witness Charter Greater clarity for witnesses
about the services and level of care they should
receive from CJS agencies. Roll out in 2008.
3. Conditional Cautioning A disposal available
to adults who are willing to admit their guilt
for relatively low-level offences with roll out
across London by March 2008.
New strategies Public protection we will
develop a strategy for cross CJS links with
CDRPs, MAPPA and responses to critical
incidents. Youth strategy we will take a broader
look at how the LCJB can contribute to tackling
youth crime beyond the PYO pledge.
4. NES Aim is to drive up enforcement of court
orders and ensure more efficient execution of FTA
warrants. Pathfinder currently in the North-West
with a view to London being the next region to
implement (this year).