England: Sources hint at move away from problem-solving courts expansion

Insiders at the Ministry of Justice say former Justice Secretary Michael Gove’s plans to bring more of the US-originated courts - where non-custodial outcomes are pursued under judicial supervision - to England and Wales will be quietly scrapped.

Drug courts, piloted in many parts of the UK, are an example of a problem-solving court, where justice agencies collaborate to help non-violent offenders change their lifestyle without going to prison.

In March, the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan (pictured), urged an extension of problem-solving courts to NI.

Sir Declan told BBC programme The View that the US and Scotland had successfully tackled re-offending rates in their respective jurisdictions by establishing special drugs courts.

He said: “There is no reason why Northern Ireland should not enjoy the same type of approach and hopefully the same benefits.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice has insisted that the Government “will be moving forward with problem-solving courts”.

However, the extension of problem-solving courts in England and Wales was absent from an internal email sent Friday which detailed key prison and justice reform programmes.

One MoJ insider reportedly told The Guardian: “It appears that Liz Truss is sceptical. It looks too much like being nice to criminals and one of Michael Gove’s ‘lovely ideas’.”