HM Courts and Tribunals Service engagement groups

We’re modernising our courts and tribunals system to make it more straightforward, accessible and efficient for all. It’s an ambitious programme designed to improve the system for both those who use it and for those working within it.

We host a number of engagement forums to make sure we’re collaborating with professional and public user groups on proposals, developments and services within the reform programme, to better understand their needs. This work has helped to shape the future landscape of the courts and tribunals services to achieve the best possible outcomes for all.

Criminal Justice Engagement Groups

The reform programme is changing the way that criminal cases are dealt with in court. At the same time, other agencies in the criminal justice system – such as the police and prison and probation services – are also changing the ways that they work. Criminal Justice Engagement Groups bring together those agencies so we can coordinate our plans for improvement.

HMCTS and representatives of the legal profession also contribute to the judicial-led Crown Court Improvement Group, chaired by the Senior Presiding Judge, to improve the performance of the Crown Court in England and Wales. Representatives from across the criminal justice system, including the Crown Prosecution Service, HM Prison and Probation Service, the Legal Aid Agency meet monthly and report directly to the Lord Chief Justice.

Local Criminal Justice Boards bring together criminal justice organisations across England and Wales, and are often chaired by local police and crime commissioners or chief constables. HMCTS is represented at these meetings through regional heads of crime who contribute to discussions and policing decisions involving criminal courts within each police force area.

Legal Professional Engagement Groups

We undertake regular engagement with legal professional bodies such as the Bar Council, the Law Society and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives at both Chief Executive and policy levels. We also work collaboratively with these bodies to make sure practitioners’ views are considered in the development of proposals and design of reformed services.

Each jurisdiction also hosts ad-hoc forums involving legal professionals to present engagement activity on specific issues and projects, based on jurisdictional project timetables and key areas of interest for the profession.

Public User Engagement Groups

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Media Engagement Groups

The group brings together representatives of the media and HMCTS policy and operational representatives to discuss issues around media access to our sites and hearings.

It supports HMCTS in updating its staff guidance to promote media access to courts and tribunals.

For further information on any of these groups, contact: HMCTS.Communications@justice.gov.uk.