This consultation sets out the proposed future strategy for HM Courts & Tribunals Service in its approach to court and tribunal estate reform.
The proposals detailed in the consultation document below have been identified following careful consideration of the ways in which we can improve the...More
This paper sets out for consultation proposals on the future of Wandsworth County Court and Blackfriars Crown Court, including the closure of the buildings and the work being relocated to other existing courts. The closures would also contribute to the consolidation of the London court estate...More
This paper sets out for consultation proposals on the future of Chorley Magistrates’ Court and Fleetwood Magistrates’ Court, including the closure of the buildings and the work being absorbed by other existing courts. The closures would also contribute to the consolidation of the Lancashire...More
This paper sets out for consultation the proposal on the future of Northallerton Magistrates’ Court, including the closure of the buildings and the work being absorbed by existing courts. The closures would also contribute to the consolidation of the North Yorkshire criminal court estate and,...More
This paper sets out for consultation proposals on the future of Banbury Magistrates’ and County Court and Maidenhead Magistrates’ Court, including the closure of the buildings and the work being relocated to other existing courts. The closures would also contribute to the consolidation of the...More
This paper sets out for consultation the proposal on the future of Cambridge Magistrates’ Court, including the closure of the building and the work being relocated to existing courts. The closure would also contribute to the consolidation of the Cambridgeshire court estate and, through...More
We are interested in your views as to the effectiveness and appropriateness of the current processes for money claims issued in the County Court. Of particular interest, will be views from respondents on limiting the circumstances in which an individual may have a judgment made in default...More
As part of the UK government’s requirement to reform public bodies, all government departments must conduct a Tailored Review of their arm’s length bodies at least once in the lifetime of a parliament, every 5 years.
As with all Tailored Reviews, the review of the Criminal Cases Review...More
What is the Sentencing Council?
The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. The Council’s remit extends to allow consultation on the sentencing of offenders following conviction.
Why...More
What is the Sentencing Council?
The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. The Council’s remit extends to allow consultation on the sentencing of offenders following conviction.
Why...More
What is the Sentencing Council?
The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. Part of the Council’s remit (ss.118-136 Coroners and Justice Act 2009) is to conduct public consultations on...More
Which offences are covered by the consultation?
Harassment (including the racially or religiously aggravated form of this offence)
Stalking (including the racially or religiously aggravated form of this offence)
Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family...More
This consultation forms part of the review of the framework under which the personal injury discount rate is set. The paper considers possibilities for how, when and by whom the discount rate should be set, but does not make specific proposals.
The core issues examined in the consultation...More
The changes to the benefits system currently being implemented under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 mean that a number of benefits that have historically been used as an administrative marker to “passport” applicants through parts of the criminal and civil legal aid means tests to free (ie,...More
This consultation paper sets out proposals for the reform of the funding scheme which pays litigators to defend clients in the Crown Court and payments to court appointees.
The government is seeking views on all aspects of these proposals. More
This consultation sets out the government’s review of Employment Tribunal (ET) fees and sets out proposals for reforming the Help with Fees scheme.
The government’s review of ET fees shows that the introduction of fees has broadly met its objectives:
users are contributing between...More
This is a consultation on a competitive tendering approach for the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme which will consolidate the current number of schemes through joining courts allowing for larger and more sustainable contracts for providers.
Providers will offer their services at a price,...More
The government is examining the case for reform of the law on corporate liability for economic crime by commencing an open call for evidence.
The call for evidence is concerned with criminal offences designed to punish and prevent economic crimes such as fraud, false accounting and money...More
This consultation paper sets out proposals for the reform of the funding scheme which pays advocates to defend clients in the Crown Court. The government is seeking views on all aspects of these proposals. In particular, the government would like to hear views specifically on:
The...More
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) is an independent inspectorate with a statutory duty to report on the treatment of and conditions for prisoners. We conduct our inspections using a set independent criteria underpinned by international human rights standards, known as...More
The government recognises that there is public concern about sentencing for offenders who kill or seriously injure others on the road and is committed to making sure that the legislative framework that the courts operate within reflects the seriousness of offending and the culpability of the...More
The government is bringing forward a package of measures to disincentivise minor, exaggerated and fraudulent road traffic accident related soft-tissue injury claims.
The vast majority of these claims are known as whiplash claims.
Despite previous government reforms, improvements in vehicle...More
As part of the UK government’s requirement to reform public bodies, all government departments must conduct a Tailored Review of their arm’s length bodies at least once in the lifetime of a parliament, every 5 years.
As with all Tailored Reviews, the reviews of the Legal Services Board...More
What is the Sentencing Council?
The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence.
Why breach?
Guidelines are not currently available for all types of breach of court order, and there is...More
The government is consulting on proposals for an expedited appeals process for detained immigration and asylum appellants. Any new process needs to balance speed and efficiency with accessibility and fairness.
The key proposals in this consultation are:
that there...More
Overarching issues and the context of the guidelines
This consultation seeks views on 3 guidelines; possession of a bladed article/ offensive weapon; threatening with a bladed article/ offensive weapon, and a youth guideline which covers all offences involving bladed articles and offensive...More
This consultation has been superseded by two separate consultations:
Transforming Our Justice System: Assisted Digital Strategy, Online Conviction and Statutory Fixed Fines (closed 10 November)
Transforming Our Justice System: Panel Composition in Tribunals (closing date 24 November)
...More
This consultation forms part of the ‘Transforming our justice system’ consultation, launched on 15 September. We are accepting responses on the panel composition element of the consultation until Thursday 24 November.
You may also wish to respond to the assisted digital strategy and...More
This consultation forms part of the ‘Transforming our justice system’ consultation, launched on 15 September. We are accepting responses on the assisted digital and online conviction and statutory fixed fine elements of the consultation until Thursday 10 November.
You may also wish to...More
We've identified an error on page 7 of the consultation document following some queries about its scope. The current version says that the consultation is “relevant to judicial office holders deployed across courts and HMCTS tribunals in England and Wales”. This is partially incorrect.
...More