We are delighted to report that all our courthouses have achieved the prestigious Charter Mark accreditation. The offices are Antrim, Armagh, Ballymena, Banbridge, Bangor, Belfast Combined Courts, Coleraine, Craigavon, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt, Newry, Newtownards, Omagh, Strabane and the Royal Courts of Justice.

Court Funds, Communications Group and Human Resources have also achieved Charter Mark Status.

Charter Mark is the Government’s award scheme for recognising and encouraging excellence in customer service. It is a benchmark tool for focusing on customer service and service delivery. Assessment against the Charter Mark standard covers 6 criterions and incorporates a total of 63 elements. The six criterions are:

Criterion 1:
Set Standards and perform well.

Criterion 2:
Actively engage with your customers, partners and staff.

Criterion 3:
Be fair and accessible to everyone and promote choice.

Criterion 4:
Continuously develop and improve.

Criterion 5:
Use your resources effectively and imaginatively.

Criterion 6:
Contribute to improving opportunities and quality of life in the community you serve.

Each criterion was judged against the Charter Mark requirements and appointed one of four compliance ratings:

• Best Practice
• Full Compliance
• Partial Compliance
• Major non-compliance