188体育

It allows prosecutors 鈥� who decide whether a case should be taken through the procedure 鈥� to deal with cases involving adult defendants accused of lesser offences that cannot result in a prison sentence, including:听

• 蝉辫别别诲颈苍驳听

• driving without insurance听

• TV license evasion听

• evading train fares听听

It enables defendants, prosecutors and courts to reach a resolution to minor offences without having to attend court (unless they choose to do so).听

A single magistrate, advised by a professional lawyer, deals with cases under SJP away from a courtroom. There鈥檚 no prosecutor or defendant present and they can deal with the case swiftly without tying up valuable court time.听听

Before 2017, SJP cases relied on paper-based processes and outdated technology meaning:听

• court staff and magistrates manually handling lots of paper听

• hours spent manually entering data which also increased the risk of human error听

• inefficient sharing of information over email causing delays听

• cost to the taxpayer associated with printing and transporting files from building to building听听听听

The system needed modernisation to handle summary, non-imprisonable offences more efficiently.听听

叠别苍别蹿颈迟蝉听

By introducing Automated Track Case Management (ATCM), a digital service created to help process SJP cases on the Common Platform criminal case management system, we鈥檝e transformed the process. This modernised, streamlined service now provides courts, prosecutors, and the public with a more efficient service.听

Over 1.1 million SJP cases have been completed digitally between April 2017 and 31 December 2024, each benefiting through:听

• faster justice giving prosecutors more capacity and enabling for defendants to move on more quickly with their lives听

• quicker information sharing between court, prosecutor and defendant听

• the ability to interact with cases more accessibly at any time and keep informed of progress听

• greater flexibility to magistrates and court staff, enabling a more efficient running of the work coming into court听

• better consistency of service being provided to all stakeholders, with Courts and Tribunals Service Centres dealing with day-to-day enquiries, rather than individual courts听

• more effective use of physical court capacity providing better value for money to the taxpayer听

• case lists published online and additional information made available to journalists, to support open justice听

• significant reduction in the financial cost of printing and transporting paper files听

Our digital transformation听

ATCM represents a transformation of the SJP system. The digital platform now manages cases from initial receipt through to the magistrate鈥檚 decision, while providing transparent access to case outcomes, referrals, and costs awarded to all stakeholders in the process, as well as journalists.听

By creating a digital platform under the Reform Programme we鈥檝e enabled:听

• end-to-end digital case management from beginning of the process to decision, allowing all stakeholders to access the information they need in real time听

• direct digital case uploading by prosecutors including DVLA, TV Licensing, TfL and local police forces听

• online plea submissions, where defendants can upload supporting information听听

• real-time tracking of the progress made by a case听

• automated notification system for case decisions to all stakeholders involved in the process, and also to journalists听

• journalists can obtain detailed information (prosecution facts and defence mitigation) digitally听

• digital access for magistrates to enter decisions directly into the system听

• integrated support from Courts and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC)听

This benefits a range of people involved in the process:听

• Prosecutors including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, TV Licensing, and police forces can now upload cases directly to the system听

• Defendants can submit pleas and access supporting information online听

• Magistrates and legal advisers can access case details, record decisions, generate orders and notices, and update driver records all through one unified platform听

• Journalists receive more information and do not have to travel to courts in person in order to report on cases听

Better information sharing听

The system鈥檚 role-based access ensures users only see information relevant to their needs, eliminating the need for paper documentation and reducing manual data entry.听听

Transparency is maintained through online publication of court lists, while journalists can access both upcoming hearing lists and court records, enabling scrutiny and reporting of outcomes to the public.听

Take up of the digital service has been strong, with the volume of digital cases between April 2019 and March 2023 more than doubling.

Since April 2022, 80% of people going through the single justice service are satisfied with the service they received.听听

Working together听

We have consulted and collaborated with a number of justice partners to design, test and implement Automated Track Case Management, the digital system developed to administer Single Justice Procedure cases online:听

• local police forces on rollout and delivery 鈥� police prosecutors are now able to upload direct to the system and self-serve听

• all criminal justice system partners听听

• non police prosecutors (NPPs) - these are now digital by default and onboarding for NPPs will accelerate in 2025/2026听

• Courts and Tribunals Service Centres to offer best support and advice with ongoing cases to all stakeholders听

• magistrates, legal advisers and judiciary as a vital partner to deliver a more streamlined system听

Getting support听

The Courts and Tribunals Service Centres (CTSC) provide comprehensive assistance to all users. Key improvements include:听

• dedicated support for defendants, prosecutors, and journalists听

• consistent service levels across all interactions听

• reduced wait times from over an hour to 15 minutes for phone queries听

• new online self-endorsement system for driving licence details听

Future plans听

We plan to continue to evolve the system including:听

• completing the digital service rollout to all police forces nationwide engaging new non鈥損olice prosecutors including the Environment Agency and transport companies听

• holding a comprehensive evaluation of the system鈥檚 sustainability and effectiveness听

• improving media access and transparency measures 鈥� publishing more data than ever before, as well as inviting journalists to observe SJP sessions听

• developing enhanced self-service options for users听

• implementing continuous technological improvements听

Stay updated听

by subscribing to our e-alerts and newsletters.听听

You can read more about how the Single Justice Procedure works by visiting: 听