CCR Press Notice 01/2001 - 19 February 2001
STATEMENT BY LORD JUSTICE AULD
On 14th December 1999 the Lord Chancellor appointed Lord Justice Auld to conduct on his own an independent review of the working of the Criminal Courts. His terms of reference required him to inquire and report on:
"the practices and procedures of the criminal courts at every level, with a view to ensuring that they deliver justice fairly, by streamlining all their processes, increasing their efficiency and strengthening the effectiveness of their relationships with others across the whole of the criminal justice system, and having regard to the interests of all parties including victims and witnesses, thereby promoting confidence in the rule of law."
On 8th February 2001 the Prime Minister announced in a speech that the Government would publish "a crime plan" later this month that would "set out root-and-branch reform of every aspect of the Criminal Justice System". There have since been a number of media references to the proposed plan, attributing to Government sources an intention that the plan and anticipated recommendations in the Review Report would form part of its electoral strategy.
Lord Justice Auld has not yet completed his Report or submitted any of it to the Lord Chancellor. He has still to reach conclusions on a number of issues central to the Review. The Lord Chancellor has assured him that, pending receipt and consideration of the Report, the Government does not intend to take final decisions on issues within his terms of reference.
Lord Justice Auld hopes to submit his Report shortly. When it is published he trusts that it will be seen as an objective analysis unassociated with and uninfluenced by current Governmental and political initiatives.
Notes to Editors
Reporters requiring further information regarding this press notice should ring Edward Adams, Secretary to the Review, tel: 020 7210 8749
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