We’re continuingmodernising to modernise our courts and tribunals servicessystem to make themit 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 consultingcollaborating with professional and public user groups on proposals, developments and services within HMCTS,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

CriminalThe Justicereform Engagementprogramme Groupsis bringchanging togetherthe way that criminal cases are dealt with in court. At the police,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 contributealso contribute to the judicial-led Crown Court Improvement Group,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 WalesWales, and are often chaired by local police and crime commissioners or chief constables. HMCTS is represented at these meetings through Regionalregional Headsheads of Operationscrime (Crime) who contribute to discussions and policing decisions involving criminal courts within each police force area. 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

A Strategic Public Engagement Group oversees four jurisdictional public engagement groups for civil, family, tribunals and crime. All groups meet tri-annually.

The purpose of these groups is to get insight into users’ experience and feedback on services. Members of the strategic group are senior cross-jurisdictional, third sector representatives.

Jurisdictional groups are chaired by HMCTS service owners who hear feedback directly from group members. They include practitioners that regularly support users and who are experts from within their own jurisdictions.

If you’re interested in joining any groups, want further information or access to the full list of stakeholders, please contact us at publicengagement@justice.gov.uk.

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.