Crown Prosecution Service head: justice system can’t cope – The Guardian

‘Britain’s criminal justice system is “creaking” and unable to cope with the huge amounts of data being generated by technology, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service has warned in her final interview before stepping down.’

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The Guardian, 27th October 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Publication of revised Code for Crown Prosecutors – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted October 26th, 2018 in codes of practice, Crown Prosecution Service, press releases by tracey

‘Revisions to the Code for Crown Prosecutors have been unveiled today by Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 24th October 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Disabled victims of hate crime receiving improved service from prosecutors – report – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted October 9th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disabled persons, hate crime, press releases by tracey

‘A network of prosecutors dedicated to tackling hate crime has helped the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) improve the experience of disabled victims, an inspection report has found.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 9th October 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Rape complainants’ lawyers to challenge CPS over dropped cases – The Guardian

‘Lawyers for rape complainants who have been “failed” by the criminal justice system are preparing to launch a legal challenge against the Crown Prosecution Service, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rape charges down by 23% in year despite rise in police reports – The Independent

Posted September 27th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, statistics by tracey

‘The number of people being charged with rape has fallen by almost a quarter, despite a rise in attacks being reported to police. New figures released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) show a 23 per cent drop in the number of rape suspects prosecuted in 2017-18 from the year before.’

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The Independent, 26th September 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Prosecutors urged to ditch ‘weak’ rape cases to improve figures – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, rape, statistics by sally

‘Prosecutors in England and Wales have been urged to take a more risk-averse approach in rape cases to help stem widespread criticism of the service’s low conviction rates, the Guardian can reveal.’

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The Guardian, 24th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS to take no action against police over death of Leon Briggs – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, death in custody, mental health, news, police, prosecutions by tracey

‘The police watchdog passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in March 2016 concerning two Bedfordshire police constables, three sergeants and a member of police staff, suggesting they may have committed crimes over the death of Leon Briggs in 2013. In January prosecutors said no action would be taken against one of the officers, and they have now confirmed that the other five people will also face no charges.’

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The Guardian, 12th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS drops all charges against former Hillsborough officer – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped all criminal charges against Sir Norman Bettison relating to his conduct as a South Yorkshire police chief inspector in the force’s response to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

CPS defends handling of case against cricketer Ben Stokes – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2018 in affray, alcohol abuse, assault, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, sport by sally

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has defended its handling of the high-profile case against the England cricketer Ben Stokes after a jury unanimously cleared him of affray.’

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The Guardian, 15th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Man freed on first day of acid attack trial in Liverpool – The Guardian

‘A judge has called on the Crown Prosecution Service to expand its review of disclosure failures after a man spent six months in prison accused of carrying out an acid attack only to be freed on the first day of his trial.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

First terrorism charges against ex-soldier who fought Islamic State fail as prosecutors offer no evidence – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 1st, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, prosecutions, terrorism by sally

‘A British ex-soldier accused of attending terrorist training camps run by militia fighting against Islamic State has had terrorism charges against him dropped.’

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Daily Telegraph, 31st July 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Changes Proposed to Code for Crown Prosecutors to drive improvements in disclosure – Crown Prosecution Service

‘Making sure clearer, earlier information about mobile phone evidence is available before a suspect is charged with a crime is part of a raft of proposed changes announced by the Director of Public Prosecutions today. This will include mobile phone messages sent by suspects and accusers in cases where the parties are known to each other.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 23rd July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Next Director of the CPS announced – Attorney General’s Office

Posted July 24th, 2018 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, press releases by tracey

‘Max Hill QC has been appointed as the next Director of Public Prosecutions .’

Full press release

Attorney General’s Office, 24th July 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/ago

CPS apologises to Girls Aloud star for not prosecuting stalker – The Guardian

Posted July 23rd, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, harassment, news, prosecutions, stalking by tracey

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has apologised to Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts for not prosecuting an ex-boyfriend accused of violating a restraining order for stalking her.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Statement following the publication of the Justice Select Committee report on Disclosure – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The Crown Prosecution Service and the National Police Chiefs Council have today (20 July) issued a joint response into the Justice Select Committee Report over Disclosure of evidence in criminal cases.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 20th July 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Director of public prosecutions criticised for ‘insufficient leadership’ over failings that saw evidence withheld from defence lawyers – The Independent

Posted July 20th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, news by tracey

‘Weak leadership by the director of public prosecutions failed to tackle failings that led to innocent people to be wrongly imprisoned, MPs have found.’

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The Independent, 19th July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Achieving sea-change: criminal disclosure failures – Counsel

Posted July 16th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, news, prosecutions, reports by tracey

‘Too little, too late? As the CPS publishes its disclosure review, Narita Bahra and Fiona Robertson assess whether its assurances and safeguards can possibly achieve the pledged sea change.’

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Counsel, July 2018

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

CPS publishes outcome of sexual offences review – Crown Prosecution Service

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has today (5 June) published the outcome of its review of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) cases.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 5th June 2018

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Oxford student wrongly accused of rape endured two years of hell because police were too busy with Jimmy Savile cases – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 18th, 2018 in Crown Prosecution Service, delay, evidence, news, police, prosecutions, rape, reports by tracey

‘An Oxford University student spent two years on bail accused of rape because police claimed they were too busy dealing with other reports in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, a damning report has revealed.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th May 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Army veteran jailed over ‘sinister’ anti-Jewish speech – BBC News

‘A far-right activist has been jailed for stirring up racial hatred after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) initially declined to prosecute him.’

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BBC News, 15th May 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk