Legal News
Better Case Management launched to deliver “speedier justice” (7 January 2016)
Date: 07/01/2016
The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has launched an initiative to deliver speedier justice, with a Better Case Management Crown Court rollout from Tuesday (05/01/16).
The majority of cases sent to the Crown Court will now be subject to Better Case Management (BCM) principles and procedures, with the aim of ensuring a single, effective hearing before trial – known as the plea and trial preparation hearing (PTPH).
The PTPH is normally expected to take place 28 days after the case has been sent from the magistrates’ court – the maximum time allowed in special circumstances is 35 days.
Early pre-trial engagement between defence practitioners and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) once a case has been sent from the magistrates’ court is key to making BCM work effectively, says the LAA.
The implementation of Better Case Management is supported by the introduction of the Crown Court Digital Case System (DCS) – rollout of this will be completed by March 2016.
The DCS allows criminal justice system partners to work more collaboratively in a secure, web-based environment.
The Better Case Management initiative builds on recommendations made by Sir Brian Leveson in his Review of Efficiency in Criminal Proceedings, published in January 2015.
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