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Last Updated: 14/6/2006
'Making a Difference: Reducing Bureaucracy and Red Tape in the Criminal Justice System' [PDF 561KB, 59 pages] was a joint project between the unit, Court Service, Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Home Office.
Scope
The project focused on reducing unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy imposed on front-line staff involved in the criminal justice system in England and Wales. The reduction, and in some cases removal, of these burdens will allow both criminal justice unit staff to spend more time performing their core duties, and less time filling out forms.
Background
The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Lord Macdonald, asked the unit to complete a project on the criminal justice system, with a specific aim of looking at the processes and unnecessary bureaucracy when dealing with an offender, from their arrest through to judicial disposal.
In the scoping phase of the project, key stakeholders in the criminal justice system were identified and interviewed to gain a broad understanding of how the criminal justice system works and the interaction between the organisations working within it. Research was undertaken to reinforce and inform the emerging themes, which once combined provided a snapshot of the criminal justice system. This then informed a structured questionnaire for use in interviews with front-line staff to be created.
Approach
As with all Making a Difference projects, front-line staff played an integral part in the identifying unnecessary burdens placed on them, and highlighting possible solutions. Through interviews with them the project team was granted access to their vast knowledge and experience.
Around 200 structured interviews with front-line staff were carried out during February to April 2002. During these interviews staff were encouraged to be frank with their views and were challenged to suggest solutions to the issues or burdens they raised. In the course of our research, we spoke to operational police officers, Criminal Justice Unit staff, CPS lawyers and caseworkers and those working within the courts and members of the judiciary, including the Senior Presiding Judge.
Initial analysis of the burdens was undertaken and then discussed, along with the background policies behind the processes causing the burdens with appropriate stakeholders. Our aim was to jointly develop solutions to reduce the burdens whilst still fulfilling the purpose of the policies.
Key Achievements
The result of the efforts and hard work of both front-line staff and policy officials within the Criminal Justice System was the publication of the 'Making a Difference: Reducing Bureaucracy and Red Tape in the Criminal Justice System' [PDF 561KB, 59 pages] report. This outlines 85 specific and time bound solutions and represents the commitment from stakeholders to reduce or remove burdens from front-line staff within the Criminal Justice System. The unit will monitor and evaluate the implementation of these commitments over time.
Next Steps
Responsibility for delivery rests with the stakeholders. The project team will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the actions are delivered as agreed and are communicated effectively to the relevant staff.
For further enquires or information please contact the unit at psinfo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk