Progress on the Courts and Tribunals Reform Programme
Summary
In 2016, HMCTS launched an ambitious portfolio of reforms later brought together to form the courts and tribunals reform programme. It aims to modernise the justice system by reducing complexity and providing new ways for people to engage. HMCTS intends to achieve this by introducing new technology and working practices, moving activity out of the courtroom, streamlining processes and introducing online services.
A significant part of the programme’s success depends on how effectively HMCTS implements its new digital case management system for criminal courts, common platform. HMCTS expects the system to deliver a quarter of the programme’s estimated gross lifetime savings.
In this report, NAO examine:
- HMCTS’s progress since 2019 (Part One)
- whether HMCTS is rolling out common platform effectively (Part Two)
- whether the reform programme is on course to achieve its expected benefits
As HMCTS has not yet completed the reform programme, they conclude on value for money risks.