“In particular, the performance of Crown Courts on the South East Circuit, which includes the East of England, is mixed.  Crown Courts in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk are performing better than other courts on the Circuit”. 

“In fact, Norwich is the best performing Crown Court on the South East Circuit, and commenced 94 per cent of its cases within the government’s time targets in 2007-08.  Not bad when you consider that last year, the Ministry of Justice spent less in the East of England per head of population than anywhere else in England.  Other courts in the South East, particularly those in the Thames Valley, are not doing so well”. 

“The South East Circuit is now being given additional resources by HM Courts Service.  However, courts that are struggling to commence cases in a timely manner could do worse than learn from the success of Norwich and of high-performing courts on other circuits”.

Mr Bacon was speaking as the Commons public accounts committee published its report into the administration of the Crown Court.  The report finds that HM Courts Service will not meet its target for commencing cases committed for trial which arise when a defendant opts to have a case heard in the Crown Court, or magistrates decide that this should happen. Performance varies widely across the Service’s 24 areas and for 2009–10, the Courts Service has targeted additional resources to those regions which manage the areas expected to face greatest demands. In particular, it has given London region and South East region sufficient resources to operate their Crown Court rooms for an additional 1,285 days and 821 days respectively in 2009–10.

According to its 2007-08 Annual Report, Norwich Crown Court remains at the forefront of courts across the whole country in terms of timeliness, with over 94 per cent of cases commenced within the time targets set.  Norwich is the best performing Crown Court on the South East Circuit.

The Ministry of Justice, which has responsibility for HM Courts Service, spent £114 per head of population in the Eastern region last year, the lowest spending in England.   The Ministry expects its spending in the East to peak at £117 per head before falling to £111 per head by 2010-11.  However, spending in the East will remain the lowest in England.

The South East Circuit comprises Crown Courts in the following areas:

Central & South London;
North & West London;
Bedfordshire, Essex & Hertfordshire;
Cambridgeshire, Norfolk & Suffolk;
Kent;
Surrey & Sussex; and
Thames Valley.

See the Ministry of Justice's spending per head by region here.

9 July 2009

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See also:
PAC REPORT: Estimating the costs of building roads in England
REPORT: MP meets Minister on Long Stratton bypass
REPORT: Ministry of Justice Annual Report 2008-09

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