§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to ensure that targets for improving the performance of the Criminal Justice System in Greater London are met. [163075]
§ Paul GogginsThe London Criminal Justice Board is one of 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards tasked with improving the performance of the Criminal Justice System (CJS).
The local boards are responsible for delivery of the CJS Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets. Their key priorities are to improve the delivery of justice by increasing the number of crimes for which an offender is brought to justice and to improve the level of public confidence in the CJS. Additionally they have targets to ensure the Persistent Young Offender pledge is met and where applicable, including in London, they have a target to reduce street crime.
Each local board has set out in delivery plans what their precise targets are and how they intend to achieve them. Progress against these plans are monitored and 1424W assessed by teams made up from representatives from across the three CJS Departments—Home Office, Department for Constitutional Affairs and Crown Prosecution Service—and appropriate feedback and support is given.
Additionally the National Criminal Justice Board, at its monthly meetings, discusses the performance of local boards and members of the board—Ministers and senior officials—regularly visit local areas to offer support, build good working relationships with board members and challenge boards on poor performance.
London also benefits from having a CJS Ministers Group that works with the board to identify and remove any obstacles to improved performance.
The board recently reviewed its sub-structures and has now set up 28 borough level Criminal Justice Boards that will allow them to focus attention and resources on those areas that most require them.