A key recommendation of the Criminal Justice Review was the creation of an independent Criminal Justice Inspectorate for Northern Ireland responsible for ensuring the inspection of all aspects of the criminal justice system other than the courts. In parallel with this, the Lord Chancellor agreed that public inspection arrangements should be established for the Court Service. HM Inspectorate of Court Administration (HMICA), formerly known as HM Magistrates Court Service Inspectorate (MCSI), for England and Wales agreed to undertake this role. HMICA’s programme of five linked inspections commenced in February 2004 and will cover all aspects of customer service in the Northern Ireland Court Service. Over a fifteen-month period the inspection team will examine the Court Service’s approach to customer service.

Customer Service in the Northern Ireland Court Service
A full report covering the findings of these inspections has now been published and is available by clicking here.

Five inspections have now been carried out into aspects of customer service. To view their findings for each individual inspection please click here.

Inspection 5
In this inspection the Court Funds Office were inspected. This inspection also included a strategic overview of inspections 1 to 4 and a review of the progress to implement previous recommendations.

Inspection 4
In this inspection the Court Divisions of Ards, Armagh and South Down were inspected, as well as the physical resource support (premises) policy and judicial support, and outreach.

Inspection 3
In this inspection the Court Divisions of Craigavon, Fermanagh & Tyrone and the Royal Courts of Justice Office were inspected, as well as the physical resource support (IT).

Inspection 2
This reviewed the Court Divisions of Londonderry and Antrim, the Enforcement of Judgments Office and Human Resource Unit.

Inspection 1
This focused on the leadership and strategic direction of customer service within the NICtS and incorporated Belfast Combined Courts and the Information Centre.