Question to the Attorney General:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Attorney General's review of disclosure procedures included a review of prosecutions in magistrates' courts; and if so, when they were included.

The Attorney General’s review of disclosure is a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of disclosure in the criminal justice system, including specifically how processes and policies are implemented by prosecution and defence practitioners, police officers and investigators.

The review will consider evidence under the following cross-cutting themes:

a) Processes within ‘volume’ cases (within the Crown Courts and Magistrates’ Courts) and ‘complex cases’ including economic crime;

b) Guidance, including any Codes of Practices, Protocols or Guidelines and legislation;

c) Case management, including initiatives such as ‘Transforming Summary Justice’, ‘Better Case Management’ and ‘Digital Casework’; and

d) Capabilities across criminal justice system including staffing, training, existing tools and digital technology.

The scope of the review is wide and has always included disclosure in magistrates’ courts. The Terms of Reference will be published on the Attorney General’s Office website.