Welcome

It is a fantastic time to be joining the CPS, a high performing and essential part of the Criminal Justice System that brings wrong-doers to justice and protects the public. Criminal Justice is rapidly becoming a digital business and the CPS is at the forefront of driving the transition from paper-based systems that have their roots in the 19th century.  We absolutely recognise the importance of providing staff with the best equipment and software that we possibly can so that we can provide a quality public service.

Every day thousands of cases are prepared and presented digitally in courts across England and Wales. The CPS has led this transformation, made possible by the dedication and perseverance of people across the organisation, and there is now a concerted action to make the whole criminal justice system digital by 2018. This is a key part of Civil Service Reform, which makes clear that public services must exploit the benefits technology offers, and will allow the CPS to meet its core commitments to deliver a high quality prosecution service for victims, witnesses and the wider public.

The aim is to create a CPS where:

  • the digital file is the basis of all casework preparation, decision-making and presentation;
  • working digitally is the normal way of working for all staff; the receipt, processing and printing of paper will be an unusual exception;
  • staff are provided with the right tools to work effectively and efficiently in a digital way supporting both the Civil Service and CPS capability digital priority; and
  • engagement with victims and witnesses and the public is available through a digital medium.

These cannot be done by the CPS alone and requires collaborative working with partner agencies and other key digitisation programmes:

  • the Common Platform Programme which aims to deliver a unified way of working for HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) and CPS staff and others in the criminal case management process, and
  • the Criminal Justice Efficiency Programme which plans to get the criminal courts working digitally - breaking the reliance on inefficient paper-dependent working.

Different working experience

Taken together, these changes will achieve a different working experience - instead of delivering and receiving information as CPS does now, all criminal justice practitioners will access shared case information with appropriate access determined by need. It will be complete, accurate and up-to-date with all parties able to follow the progress of the case.

Digital evidential material such as statements, photographs and video will become the norm, and will be used in the office, in court and on the go. Introducing new technology into courts, including wi-fi in every court, will facilitate the smooth running of court proceedings, enabling all court users to work digitally by sharing common in-court presentation technology and data stores. CPS staff will have direct access to cross Criminal Justice System (CJS) Case Management System, and information will also be shared electronically with victims, witnesses and the public where possible and appropriate.

The Director of Digital Transformation will help drive forward and develop the programme and will be a powerful partner to senior leaders in the CPS and in the wider CJS. This is one of the largest digital programmes in government and the challenges are great, but the opportunities to really make a difference for the public are much greater still.

We look forward to welcoming you as a key part of our digital journey.

Paul Staff
Director of Corporate Services

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