SRA plan independent team to evaluate enforcement quality

May 14, 2021
Author: Simon Bladen
Simon is one of the firm's Audit Partners. Simon is responsible for looking after the firm’s legal, charitable and not-for-profit clients.
SRA form independent evaluation team

The SRA is planning to create an internal independent team to monitor and evaluate the quality of the disciplinary policies and decisions the SRA has put in place. This proposed new team will work at a distance from SRA operations and will maintain and prepare quality assurance checks over the SRA’s enforcement work. This news was announced by the SRA in their 2021/22 business plan which was released on 6 May 2021.

Over the past couple of years, the current enforcement policy has been subject to criticism. Much of this criticism concerns costs and diversity, with the number of individuals subject to action from ethnic minority backgrounds being disproportionate. In the newly released business plan, the SRA said that diversity and inclusion will continue to be a high priority over the next 12 months. Furthermore, they have confirmed that they will continue to investigate why there is an over representation of ethnic minority groups in their enforcement process.

In this business plan, the SRA has set out and prioritised three objectives in an ongoing three-year Corporate Strategy. These objectives are:

  • Maintain high standards
  • Support the adoption of technology and innovation
  • Anticipate and respond to change

It is important to note that this business plan is subject to consultation until 25 June 2021.

Further details regarding the 2021/22 business plan can be found here.

 

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