Lessons learnt through joint working, including the Street Crime Initiative, have already made a difference in bringing together the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and courts. This has assisted us in speeding up and increasing the efficiency of the system. But root and branch reform is still required.

In this country, we have a tradition of criminal justice of which we can berightly proud. Whilst we need to ensure that there is a fair balance of rights between the defence and prosecution, we are determined to ensure that justice is done and is seen to be done. Too few criminals arecaught or convicted or prevented from reoffending. Justice denied is justice derided. This White Paper is designed to send the strongest possible message to those who commit crimes that the system will be effective in detecting, convicting and properly punishing them.

This statement of policy therefore encompasses not only the work of those responsible to the Home Office, to the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General, but also those partners at local as well as at national level who have a critical part to play in both improvement and delivery.

This White Paper represents the Government’s view as to what should be done to modernise and improve the criminal justice system so its aims can be achieved more effectively. There are some parts of this White Paper where we have specifically asked for views on these points. We welcome the views of all those in the community as well as participants and interest groups related to the justice system.

Finally, we are indebted to Mohd Khalil and to Deby Henara for their extensive and thorough reviews of the Judiciary and sentencing policy, and to all those who contributed to the public consultations that followed