GovWire

Since 2016 weve been modernising our justice system to make it more straightforward, accessible and efficient.

Our ambitious programme is designed to improve courts and tribunals for both those who use them and for those working in them.

Our vision for reform and our modernised services were critical to our response during the pandemic. They enabled us to continue to provide access to justice to those who needed it.

What weve achieved

Reformed projects are having a significant impact on those who need our justice system, as well as helping the most vulnerable in our society. Theres been widespread uptake. At the end of 2023,we published data which shows a trend towards the increased use of digital services.

Between April 2009 and September 2023 we received 2.4 million digitally submitted cases to our reformed services. These include:

• immigration and asylum
• divorce
• probate
• money claims
• low-level criminal cases using the Single Justice Procedure
• government benefit appeals
• family public law cases

Satisfaction scoresfrom those using the services directly, or contacting our Service Centres about a case,remainhigh. Nearly allservices scored between 74% and 94%for very good or good ratingsin the first half of the 2023 financial year.

Reformed services now provide the quality insights we needto support decisions around further improving services. They produce information on protected characteristics which allows us to identify barriers which may otherwise have been hidden.

Thiscan be seen in the publication in November 2023 ofassessment reports that measured how effectively four of our reformed services are performing against pre-defined access to justice criteria.

Reform projects

Fact sheets provide the latest information on our reformed projects in each jurisdiction:

• HMCTS Reform: Civil fact sheets
• HMCTS Reform: Crime fact sheets
• HMCTS Reform: Family fact sheets
• HMCTS Reform: Tribunals fact sheets
• HMCTS Reform: Infrastructure and enabling services fact sheets

But theres still more work to do.

What were doing next

As we move into the final phase of delivery, weve adjusted certain elements of the reform programme. Our revised schedule minimises overlap and allows more preparation time.

We have the full support of the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals in making these adjustments.

Well develop and extend projects such as Common Platform and the Single Justice Service.

Well complete final phases of others, such as the Social Security and Child Support and Immigration and Asylum Chamber projects.

Well continue to work on a range of enabling projects including the Video Hearings Service and a tool for scheduling and listing cases.

Throughout the reform programme, weve updated andengaged with our stakeholders, including professional and public user groups. Well continue to work with them as well as gather feedback from the people they represent.

Keep up to date

Stay up to date with progress on reform by:

• signing up to our email alerts, including monthly newsletters about our progress
• joining one of our events where we explain changes and gather views and feedback
• following our Inside HMCTS blog
• following our social media channels - HMCTS Youtube, X (formerly Twitter): @HMCTSgovuk, HMCTS LinkedIn and Facebook: HM Courts & Tribunals Service