Pilot scheme to free up Police time - Virtual Courts Launched
Monday, 01 June, 2009
The first virtual court pilot scheme and an extension of intensive Community Payback was announced on May 12 by the Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Jack Straw with the aim to ensure a speedier and more effective justice system.
Background
This pilot follows the success of a 12-week prototype study in 2007 in South London. That prototype study demonstrated that both custody and bail first hearings could take place in a single day with an average time of three and a half hours.
Other London Police Stations joining the pilot are Brixton, Kennington, Streatham,
Peckham,Walworth, Lewisham, Plumstead, Bromley, Croydon, South Norwood,
Sutton, Paddington Green, Belgravia, and Bexleyheath. An estimated 15,000 cases
are expected to be dealt with using the Virtual Court during the one-year pilot.
Freeing up police and magistrates' time
The Virtual Courts scheme will involve defendants having their cases heard at a magistrates' court, via secure video link from a police station, within hours of being charged and, if a defendant pleads guilty, could see sentencing handed down on the same day. The one-year Virtual Courts pilot, will initially link Charing Cross Police Station in central London to Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court, with a further 14 police stations across London to join the pilot in the summer. A second pilot will run in North Kent from mid-June.
The pilot Scheme could save £2.2 million over the coming year, with a potential roll out across England and Wales delivering benefits in excess of £10 million a year, as well freeing up police and magistrates' courts time and making important improvements to the service given to victims and witnesses.
Alongside this, the use of intensive Community Payback will be extended to even more unemployed offenders across England and Wales where they will have to carry out demanding work for at least 18 hours a week. This will ensure a significant loss of liberty and free time for more offenders, who must now wear branded orange jackets so the public can see that justice is being done. During hearings the Virtual Court will sit at both the court and police station. The defendant will be online at the police station, with the magistrates or district judge, legal adviser, Crown Prosecution Service and probation service based at the court.
The defendant's solicitor can be either at the police station or court. The public will be able to see the defendant on a screen within the court. Defendants will still have access to confidential legal advice and a system of safeguards will be in place to ensure those with mental health or learning difficulties and vulnerable defendants' rights are protected. If the magistrates or a district judge feel that the process is unsuitable for a particular case they can terminate proceedings at any stage and refer the case for a standard court hearing.
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, sponsor of the London Criminal Justice Board commented 'Although the virtual courts project was set in train before the current economic difficulties its potential for an efficient first stage in the life of a court case - backed by thorough safeguards - is more relevant than ever.'
