Coroners and Justice Bill

I follow my noble and learned friend in supporting Amendment 191. Indeed, the Minister of Justice has said: ""For courts to work in the interests of communities, the justice they dispense must be open and visible"." All sentences imposed are open to public scrutiny and a matter of public record. However, there is an increasing trend for the police and prosecution to use out-of-court disposals, as my noble and learned friend has said. Data collected by the Magistrates’ Association show that there is serious inconsistency in the use of such disposals, a lack of proper recording and misuse for inappropriate offences. These disposals are not subject to public, judicial or any other type of scrutiny. The Justice Secretary has also said: ""Open, visible justice, is therefore a means of ensuring judicial accountability through professional and public scrutiny. It gives legitimacy to public institutions; increasing understanding and dispelling myths about the ways in which they operate"." The police and Crown Prosecution Service are such public institutions, and should be subject to proper record and scrutiny of how they use these disposals. I therefore look forward to the Minister’s response.