A project pioneered in Hertfordshire which sends a text message to defendants to remind them about upcoming court appearances has won a national award. The scheme was started by the county’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to save police and courts time and money. Around a fifth of first-appearance court cases were delayed as the accused had failed to show up. The execution of additional arrest warrants added to police costs and used up officers’ time while they searched for and arrested the defendant, held them in custody and then arranged for them to attend court. The process of …