Corporate report

[Withdrawn] Ministry of Justice single departmental plan - December 2017

Updated 27 June 2019

This corporate report was withdrawn on

This publication was withdrawn on 23 May 2018

It has been replaced by a new version

Our single departmental plan sets out our objectives and how we will achieve them.

Secretary of State for Justice

The Rt Hon David Gauke MP

Permanent Secretary

Richard Heaton

Our justice system is admired across the world. The principles and values that run through our justice system are a mark of the kind of country we are.

Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in our society.

We do this by protecting the public and keeping our communities safe, by reforming offenders, by providing open and accessible justice, by standing up for victims and protecting the vulnerable, and by upholding the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

Our objectives

  1. A prison and probation service that reforms offenders

  2. A modern courts and justice system

  3. A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law

  4. A transformed department

1. A prison and probation service that reforms offenders

Lead ministers:

The Rt Hon David Gauke MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Rory Stewart OBE MP, Minister of State

Dr Phillip Lee MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Lead officials:

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service

Justin Russell, Director General - Prisons, Offender and Youth Justice Policy

1.1 Keep prisons safe and secure and maintain the highest level of public protection

How we will achieve this
Operate safe, secure prisons that protect the public
Recruit an extra 2,500 prison officers
Using the Urgent Notification process respond promptly and publicly, within 28 days, when problems are identified by the prisons inspectorate

1.2 Reform offenders

How we will achieve this
Develop and implement a cross-government approach to reducing reoffending
Provide a continuous path to reform by integrating the prison system more closely with services in the community and making better use of early intervention
Deliver more effective and tailored interventions for offenders who are vulnerable or have distinct needs – such as women and young offenders

Our performance

Reoffending rate

Period Adult proven reoffending rate
October to December 2015 28.7%
July to September 2015 28.2%
April to June 2015 28.5%
January to March 2015 28.2%

The data source used to compile the proven reoffending statistics changed in October 2015. Because of this, users should be cautious when comparing the latest quarter with data from previous quarters.

Source: Proven reoffending statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Assaults on prisoners

Year to date Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults (per 1,000 prisoners)
June 2017 231
June 2016 209
June 2015 158

Source: Safety in custody / Release schedule: annual

Assaults on prison staff

Year to date Assaults on prison staff (rate per 1,000 prisoners)
June 2017 87
June 2016 70
June 2015 49

Source: Safety in custody / Release schedule: annual

Self-harm in prisons

Year to date Incidents of self-harm (rate per 1,000 prisoners)
June 2017 482
June 2016 430
June 2015 338

Source: Safety in custody / Release schedule: annual

Prison officer numbers

Year to date Prison officer numbers (band 3-5 prison officers)
September 2017 19,996
August 2017 20,003
July 2017 19,731
June 2017 19,543
May 2017 19,445
April 2017 19,281
March 2017 19,174
February 2017 18,981
January 2017 18,999
December 2016 18,644
November 2016 18,748
October 2016 18,713

Source: Prison officer recruitment / Release schedule: monthly

2. A modern courts and justice system

Lead ministers:

The Rt Hon David Gauke MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Lucy Frazer QC MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

Dr Phillip Lee MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, Ministry of Justice Spokesperson in the Lords

Lead officials:

Susan Acland-Hood, Chief Executive, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Justice and Courts Policy Group

Matthew Coats, Chief Operating Officer

2.1 Improving access to justice

How we will achieve this
Deliver an accessible, speedy and effective online court where people will be able to resolve civil claims under £10,000 quickly and easily, track benefits appeals through our systems, and enter pleas for low level offences
Provide easy-to-use digital ways to resolve matters like probate and uncontested divorce entirely online
Deliver world class digital systems to manage cases seamlessly from police and Crown Prosecution Service through the criminal courts
Introduce legislation to modernise the courts system
Use fewer, better, more flexible court buildings more effectively for the benefit of citizens
Provide simple, timely and reliable access to legal aid

2.2 Protect vulnerable victims, witnesses and children

How we will achieve this
Continue to roll out the use of pre-recorded cross examination in criminal courts so that, wherever possible, vulnerable victims and witnesses can be spared the ordeal of being cross-examined in open court
Publish an overarching strategy for victims of crime to ensure victims are properly supported by the justice system
Develop legislative proposals to tackle domestic violence and abuse (with Home Office)
Publish a response to David Lammy’s independent review of outcomes for BAME individuals in the criminal justice system, setting out how we will take forward his recommendations to address disparities in the system
Work with the judiciary and others to reduce the stress, complexity and cost of family disputes
Administer the scheme for compensation to victims of violent crime fairly, efficiently and sensitively
Register lasting and enduring powers of attorney so that people can choose who they want to make certain decisions on their behalf, should they lose capacity to make those decisions themselves

2.3 Support the independent judiciary and their ability to attract the best and widest range of talent

How we will achieve this
Make sure judicial recruitment meets the needs of today’s justice system and draws on the best talent from every part of society
Conduct a major review of judicial pay through the Senior Salaries Review Body

Our performance

Court timeliness

Quarter Average number of days taken from offence to completion for criminal cases in England and Wales
2017 Q2 (p) 180
2017 Q1 187
2016 Q4 184
2016 Q3 183
2016 Q2 186
2016 Q1 184
2015 Q4 180
2015 Q3 180
2015 Q2 180
2015 Q1 179

Source: Criminal court statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Magistrates’ courts outstanding caseload

Quarter Outstanding criminal cases in the magistrates’ courts in England and Wales
2017 Q2 (p) 283,766
2017 Q1 288,735
2016 Q4 291,422
2016 Q3 283,308
2016 Q2 292,310
2016 Q1 304,262
2015 Q4 327,228
2015 Q3 314,979
2015 Q2 323,090
2015 Q1 328,291

Source: Criminal court statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Crown court outstanding caseload

Quarter Outstanding cases in the Crown Court in England and Wales
2017 Q2 (p) 39,615
2017 Q1 40,827
2016 Q4 42,149
2016 Q3 42,820
2016 Q2 44,460
2016 Q1 47,972
2015 Q4 50,876
2015 Q3 52,235
2015 Q2 53,098
2015 Q1 54,719

Source: Criminal court statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

Family court timeliness

Quarter Average disposal duration (weeks)
2017 Q2 (p) 28.3
2017 Q1 28.0
2016 Q4 26.8
2016 Q3 26.7
2016 Q2 26.9
2016 Q1 27.5
2015 Q4 27.5
2015 Q3 27.8
2015 Q2 29.0
2015 Q1 29.1

Source: Family court statistics / Release schedule: quarterly

3. A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law

Lead ministers:

The Rt Hon David Gauke MP, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor

Lucy Frazer QC MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, Ministry of Justice Spokesperson in the Lords

Lead officials:

Mark Sweeney, Director General, Justice and Courts Policy Group

How we will achieve this
Launch and use the Legal Services are GREAT campaign to promote the UK legal services sector around the world
Work to secure an effective post-exit framework with the EU for resolving cross-border commercial, civil and family disputes
Work with the legal services sector to maintain its world-leading status

4. A transformed department

Lead ministers:

The Rt Hon David Gauke MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Rory Stewart OBE MP, Minister of State

Lead officials:

Matthew Coats, Chief Operating Officer

Mike Driver, Chief Financial Officer

4.1 Be a unified and responsive department

How we will achieve this
Develop our people so that they have the skills and capability to deliver excellent services
Foster an inclusive culture to build a more diverse workforce

4.2 Use data, information, technology and innovation to improve our services, deliver value and drive efficiency in all we do

How we will achieve this
Put evidence at the heart of the justice system, opening up our data, analysis and research, and improving our information management
Reduce our reliance on expensive properties in Whitehall by being a smarter, decentralised national organisation
Become a more effective organisation by simplifying internal processes, and build on the organisation’s new functional structure (based on eight core functions) to maximise the benefits that arise from these changes

Our performance

Staff engagement

Year Ministry of Justice people survey engagement index score (%)
2017 63
2016 61
2015 59

Source: Civil service people survey / Release schedule: annual

Greenhouse gas emissions

Year Total emissions - Scope 1, 2 & 3 (non-financial indicators tCO2e)
2016/2017 405,139
2015/2016 459,494
2014/2015 482,725

Source: Ministry of Justice, Annual Report and Accounts / Release schedule: annual

Our finances

Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £7.9 billion

Resource DEL (including depreciation): £7.2 billion

Capital DEL: £0.7 billion

Annually Managed Expenditure: £0.5 billion

Control totals included in this document are in line with the latest voted by Parliament in the Main Supply Estimates 2017-18

Source: Main Supply Estimates 2017-2018