Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Criminal Justice System Efficiency: Technology

Tuesday 11 March 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government plans to use emerging technology to enhance court processing and manage offenders
  • Lord Chancellor agrees reliable electronic tags can improve efficiency and reduce prison costs
  • Department is imposing further financial penalties on Serco for poor performance in tagging prisoners

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shaun Davies Lab Telford
Justice & Courts Science & Technology
Context

Between 2016 and 2022, there was a 25% reduction in cases concluded in the criminal justice system. The government announced 110,000 sitting days to address efficiency.

Question

I am concerned about using technology to streamline our justice system. Between 2016 and 2022, there was a 25% reduction in cases being concluded. What plans do the Government have to use emerging new tech to enhance court processing, get faster justice for victims, and help manage offenders in the community, including through ankle tagging to enforce exclusion zones, and drug and alcohol testing?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood (The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice)

We have expanded the use of tagging; we are piloting new technology to automate manual work in the justice system; and I have launched a new unit, Justice AI, to further develop the use of artificial intelligence. Sir Brian Leveson is conducting an independent review of criminal courts to improve efficiency. We will consider how to improve the courts' efficiency and enhance tagging and monitoring for exclusion zones and curfews.

Partly answered
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Q2 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Justice & Courts
Context

The use of electronic tags is seen as a way to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system and mitigate the need for expensive prison places.

Question

Will the Lord Chancellor accept that the effective use of electronic tags will not only make the criminal justice system more efficient, but also mitigate the need for expensive prison places? What can be done to ensure that the tags are technically reliable and that officials in her Department have the commercial capacity to manage contracts efficiently?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood (The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice)

I agree that reliable electronic tags can improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system and reduce prison costs. The Department is ensuring expertise in technology, setting up a new unit called Justice AI to manage contracts efficiently and maintain public confidence.

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Q3 Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The Department of Justice released dozens of dangerous prisoners by mistake last year. Some criminals were not monitored for up to eight weeks as they did not have electronic tags.

Question

How many criminals did her Department fail to tag? Were any offences committed while these criminals went unmonitored, and who has been held accountable for this gross incompetence?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood (The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice)

I inherited a contract from the previous government with Serco, which I am holding accountable. The delays are unacceptable; Serco’s performance is not good enough, but the backlog has been reduced. Further financial penalties will be imposed where necessary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific numbers of prisoners who were not tagged and accountability measures for oversight

How: I Inherited A Contract From The Previous Government, Serco’S Performance Is Still Not Good Enough

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Q4 Robert Jenrick Reform Newark
Justice & Courts
Context

The Department's ability to tag prisoners properly is questioned, raising concerns about public trust in using electronic tags as an alternative to short prison sentences.

Question

If her Department cannot even tag prisoners properly, why should the public have any confidence in her plan to use tags in place of short prison sentences? The threshold for a prison sentence is already high. Will the Justice Secretary take this opportunity to reassure the public and rule out reducing sentences for burglary, theft or shoplifting?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood (The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice)

When my predecessor’s Government left office, prisons were on the point of collapse. We will ensure that prison places are available for those who need to be locked up to keep the public safe. We will expand punishment outside prison and help offenders turn their back on crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: reassuring the public about electronic tags instead of short sentences and ruling out reduced sentences for specific crimes

How: Prisons Were On The Point Of Collapse, We Will Ensure That Prison Places Are Always Available

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