The webpage for the Justice Committee of the House of Commons explains that it “was appointed to consider justice and home affairs, including the domestic criminal justice system, and international cooperation in respect of criminal justice, civil justice, migration and asylum.”
Technology rules? The advent of new technologies in the justice system
30th March 2022 – Committee Report
The report primary considers the use of AI in crime detection (such as Automated Facial Recognition). Chapter 3 (“Transparency”) focusses “on the importance and current lack of transparency, and proposals to increase it” (§90). The committee made various recommendations.
N.d. – Government response
The government responded to some of the recommendations. With regards to transparency, it accepts the need for “openness and transparency” but that “some level of operational secrecy may be required in some contexts” (§29-30). In response to one recommendation, that ethics committees are established, the government noted that, “only Members of Parliament and the democratically elected Police Crime Commissioners are empowered to act on behalf of the public. It is for elected representatives to set the laws and the policy; and Chief Constables are rightly operationally independent” (§42).
6th July 2022 – Letter from Committee Chair, Baroness Sally Hamwee, to the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP
The committee chair notes that the Committee was “disheartened by the Home Office reaction to what we hoped would be understood as constructive conclusions and recommendations”.
Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network 