COURTS BILL
“Legislation will also be introduced to modernise
the courts system”
The purpose of the Bill is to:
-
Reform our courts and tribunal system to improve access
to justice, making better use of technology and modernising
working practices.
The main benefits of the Bill would
be:
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To reform our world class courts system so that it
provides straightforward and efficient access to justice for
people, and provides targeted support and care for those who
need it.
The main elements of the Bill are:
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To put an end to the direct cross examination of domestic
violence victims by their alleged perpetrators in the family
courts and extend the use of virtual hearings, which will allow
victims to participate in trials without having to meet their
alleged assailant face-to-face.
-
To enable those charged with some less serious criminal
offences to opt to plead guilty, accept a conviction and pay a
statutory fixed penalty online which will free up court time
for more serious cases. Defendants will need to actively opt
into this process and could still choose to have their case
heard in court instead. An example would be where a first time
offender has admitted to travelling on a train without
purchasing a ticket. The reforms will also introduce digital
services which will allow businesses to pursue their cases
quickly, enabling them to recover debts more easily.
-
To meet the demands of a modern justice system, by
providing a better working environment forjudges, allowing more
leadership positions in the judiciary to be offered on a fixed
term, and enabling judges to be deployed more flexibly to
improve the opportunities for career progression.
Territorial extent and application
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The Bill would apply in full to England and Wales
and in part to Northern Ireland
and Scotland.
Key facts
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Reforming our courts, by making better use of technology
and modernising working practices, will result in steady state
savings to the taxpayer of £226 million once the reforms are
implemented.
