Common Platform: a modern digital case management system for the criminal justice system
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-24)

Common Platform is a bespoke digital case management system, designed and developed by HMCTS, for the Crown and magistrates’ courts in England and Wales.

It has brought together a range of different ‘legacy’ case management systems used in the criminal justice system under a single, unified platform.

Before Common Platform, our people and partners faced significant daily challenges:

High volumes of physical documents using hours of court time to manually handle

Significant cost to the taxpayer of printing and transporting paper between agencies, causing delays and inefficiencies throughout the justice system.

Need for legal advisers and court clerks to manually record and process actions after the hearing, slowing access to justice down further for victims, defendants and witnesses

Delays and inefficiencies in completing daily tasks like booking interpreters, requesting screens, or processing court orders required multiple manual steps across different systems, causing delay and inefficiency

Benefits

Over 2.3 million criminal cases have been managed on Common Platform as of February 2025 (source Reformed Services Management Information (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/hmcts-management-information-reformed-services-september-2023), March 2025), meaning a number of benefits for the people and parties involved

The right people involved in a case can access the right, up to date information at any time of day or night

Users and agencies receive notifications and real time updates to the case instantly

Automation of manual processes mean quicker progress, reduced chance of error and better use of expertise

Information and data is kept and shared safely through controls over who can see what based on their role

Greater resilience as HMCTS teams and external parties can access cases from any location, ensuring service continuity even if even if they cannot physically be on site at a court

Quicker processing and uploading through automated case management, particularly for Single Justice Procedure cases

Greater efficiency by eliminating some paper-based processes

Better data collection to inform improvements

By developing the system in-house, we have strengthened our expertise and have greater flexibility to adapt the system to changing needs and technological developments.

Case Management Evolution

The implementation of Common Platform into all Crown and magistrates’ courts has transformed how cases are managed in criminal courts: over 2.3 million cases managed through the system (source Reformed Services Management Information (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/hmcts-management-information-reformed-services-september-2023), March 2025), demonstrates its robust capability , demonstrates its robust capability

single system replacing multiple outdated platforms, reduces complexity and training needs

real-time case updates across all agencies, significantly reduces delays in information sharing

Our Digital Transformation

The journey to modernise our criminal courts began in 2011, with Common Platform representing the most significant technological transformation in the justice system’s history. Under the Reform Programme from 2016, we faced the challenge of replacing multiple outdated systems that weren’t communicating with each other.

It has been very challenging to introduce such a significant change:

Teams across HMCTS had to adapt to new roles and ways of working while managing existing caseloads

The pandemic was especially challenging, as court personnel managed dual systems in live courtrooms

We did not always get it right, initially focusing too heavily on technical solutions rather than user experience

We did not deliver everything we set out to – for example Crown Prosecution Service case management systems interface with Common Platform, rather than being a direct part of it as originally planned

This has been valuable learning and helped shape our approach. By placing users at the heart of development and using their feedback to directly inform plans, we have still achieved a lot.

Digital Documentation

The move to digital processes has transformed how documents are handled and shared:

Defence advocates can complete crucial forms digitally in real-time, saving court time and reducing errors

Self-service access for case materials, allowing users more control

Automatic generation of notices, orders and warrants, speeding up justice delivery

Digital submission of documents, cutting costs and environmental impact

Seamless transfer of materials between magistrates’ and Crown Courts, reducing delays

Automated Processing

Reform has introduced significant automation to streamline court processes:

Automated Track Case Management (ATCM) for Single Justice Procedure (SJP) cases, increasing efficiency

Instant case creation and updates, eliminating manual data entry

Automatic notifications to relevant parties, improving communication flow

Electronic monitoring forms processed immediately, reducing processing time from hours to minutes

Screen requests handled automatically, ensuring courtroom readiness

Better Information Sharing

The digital system has revolutionised information sharing between justice partners:

Instant result notifications to police forces, enabling swift action

Direct updates to the Legal Aid Agency, speeding up payments to advocates

Immediate sharing of sentencing information with prisons and probation, improving offender management

Role-based access ensuring secure information sharing, maintaining data protection

Single point of contact through Courts and Tribunals Service Centres (CTSC), providing consistent support

System Performance

The platform has demonstrated significant improvements in efficiency and user satisfaction:

Criminal courts across England and Wales now fully digital since August 2023, modernising justice delivery

Defence practitioners can access case information instantly, improving preparation time

Court personnel report significant time savings through automated processes

positive feedback from judiciary, legal professionals and court personnel (January 2025)

This transformation represents a fundamental, technological change in the criminal courts moving all information digitally onto a shared system that all stakeholders can access, creating a more efficient, accessible and resilient justice system for all.

Working Together

We worked closely with:

local police forces on rollout and delivery – police prosecutors are now able to upload direct to the system and self-serve

CPS, who were a founding partner on setting up the system, improving their access to digital forms and requests

All criminal justice system partners

non police prosecutors (NPPs) - NPPs are now able to upload direct on to the system and self-serve

Legal Aid Agency – ensuring defence advocates are paid swiftly for legal aid cases

Courts and Tribunals Service Centres to offer best support and advice with ongoing cases to all stakeholders

HM Prisons and Probation Service improving offender management, as they previously did not have access to the Libra legacy system

Magistrates, legal advisers and judiciary as a vital partner at all levels to deliver a more streamlined system

Getting Support

We’ve established comprehensive support systems:

dedicated Courts and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) providing customer support

specialised training programmes for court personnel and system users

regular system updates based on user feedback

technical support available for all professional users

service boards to monitor live performance and system changes

permanent change function to prioritise and resource future improvements

Feedback and Insights

Users across the justice system have praised the new platform:

We have better oversight of cases, the triage process ensures that cases are listed appropriately and in the correct court, which means we are saving court time.

Sharon Kostanjsek, Criminal Justice Unit Manager, Avon and Somerset Police

Dealing with a case on a single system, rather than at least 3 different systems as we did previously, is more practical and efficient.

Jon Sugden, legal adviser

I like that producing orders is far simpler, now they are created directly from the result. There is no need to produce orders manually and email them or complete a lengthy electronic monitoring form.

Mark Whiteley, formerly Wales transformation implementer

Future Plans

As we continue to develop the platform, we’re focusing on:

enhanced data analytics capabilities, enabling evidence-based improvements

further automation opportunities to continue increasing efficiency

maintaining system flexibility to adapt to future needs

continue developing new features based on user feedback

transfer of system responsibility to HMCTS live service teams by March 2025

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