Witnesses in criminal court cases in Lincolnshire can now be sent a text message when they are due to appear in court.
A new computer system called XHIBIT being introduced at Lincoln Combined court can reduce the time witnesses of crime spend waiting in court to give evidence.
The technology saves time for witnesses including police officers, meaning they attend court only when they are needed. It could save 80,000 police days every year and mean more policing on the streets.
XHIBIT is now being rolled out across England and Wales, following a successful pilot at a Crown court in London last year.
Witnesses and members of the public can also track court hearings online using the Internet or via public display screens in the court building.
Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs Harriet Harman, said:
"Attending court can be stressful at the best of times. Witnesses do not want to be waiting in court for hours before being called to give evidence. With XHIBIT, witnesses can now be more in touch with the tracking of their case whether online or through their mobile phone.
"There will be local benefits too, as police officers will spend less time waiting at court to give evidence, and more time policing the streets.
"This technology is part of the Government's drive to bring the court system into the 21st Century. It all adds up to a better deal for victims and witnesses in the court process."
XHIBIT also provides case information to magistrates' courts, Witness Service, Victim Support, the police, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and Crown Prosecution Service in minutes rather than days.
XHIBIT gives the police the opportunity to update the Police National Computer much faster and orders made by the court can be processed more quickly.
Richard Redgrave, Lincolnshire Area Director for Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), said:
"The new system will provide criminal justice agencies in Lincolnshire with near real time court information via the Internet to all interested parties thereby making the delivery of justice more transparent and more efficient."
Superintendent Goodwin, Head of Criminal Justice Support in Lincolnshire said:
"As a committed partner within the Lincolnshire Criminal Justice Board, Lincolnshire Police is delighted to see innovative developments that aim to support community members using the criminal justice service.
"This new approach proposes considerable benefits to both police officers and witnesses by reducing the valuable time required waiting at court. Such improvements all contribute towards our purpose of reducing crime, reducing the fear of crime, increasing public safety and contributing to the service of justice. "
Notes to Editors
- XHIBIT (eXchanging Hearing Information By Internet Technology) is a £20m project now being introduced into 101 Crown Court sites across England and Wales.
- Anyone with access to the internet can view the current status of a Crown Court via Her Majesty's Court Service website at http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk.
- Approximately 19 per cent of trials are ineffective and are adjourned until a later date.
- Only three per cent of police time in court is spent giving evidence. This equates to £100m pa that could be used for more effective policing.
- Forty per cent of those attending court would be unwilling to be witnesses again. The key reasons were wasted time in court precincts, repeated adjournments and a lack of information. Only 54 per cent of witnesses gave evidence on the day called and 17 per cent waited more than 4 hours.
- All three courtrooms in Lincoln Combined court will use XHIBIT.
