Will the Carter Review really save Money?
Lord Carter had no remit to look at the real costs drivers in the system though he at least acknowledges that these exist. The plans are entirely optimistic and rest on the unrealistic notion that efficiency savings from reduced travel and waiting will so reduce overall costs to suppliers (law firms) as to allow for cuts in the overall budget without any reduction in quality of service.
The proposals suggest that the crime budget is out of control. This is not the case and the reality deserves more careful analysis.
The cost of police station and magistrates’ courts work is ‘under control’ and likely to fall further as a result of the reintroduction of means tests; the end of committal proceedings and other changes due to be introduced in the near future.
What is known is that 1% of the cases account for some 50% of the entire budget. This resulted in the setting up of the VHCC regime. The new system is working to reduce costs. We have made proposals to deal with the quite enormous costs involved in some of the few ‘Titanic’ cases each year.
Lessons from Public Defender Service pilot scheme demonstrate that private law firms already provide good value for money.