Could new guidelines have stopped Savile? – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2013 in crime prevention, Crown Prosecution Service, news, sexual offences, victims by sally

“The Crown Prosecution Service has published detailed guidance on how to handle sex abuse allegations. It comes down to is a simple shift in thinking that can make a profound difference: Trust, rather than doubt, what the victim is saying.”

Full story

BBC News, 17th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DPP issues tough new guidelines for child sex cases aimed at ensuring more convictions, reveals Keir Starmer – The Independent

“New guidelines for dealing with child sex abuse cases published today will mark ‘the most fundamental attitude shift’ in the criminal justice system in a generation, the Director of Public Prosecutions has claimed.”

Full story

The Independent, 17th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service admits misleading public over complaints – The Guardian

“The Crown Prosecution Service has admitted publishing misleading records of complaints made about its performance.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Plebgate: Keir Starmer defends police investigation – The Guardian

“Britain’s most senior prosecutor said he understands concerns surrounding the time it has taken to investigate police officers over the Plebgate saga, which cost Tory MP Andrew Mitchell his cabinet post.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sexual offences: Wrong questions asked of victims, says Keir Starmer – BBC News

“Victims of sexual offences have been afraid of reporting them because police have asked ‘the wrong questions’, the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Human Rights Act must stay, says CPS director Keir Starmer – The Independent

“Repealing the Human Rights Act would be ‘retrograde step’ that would hurt the victims of crime and witnesses alike, the outgoing director of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has warned.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Statement from Director of Public Prosecutions on abortion related cases – Crown Prosecution Service

“In early 2012, the Daily Telegraph carried out an undercover investigation at various abortion clinics in England. As a result, a police investigation was conducted and, in due course, the police asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for advice about possible criminal charges. This note relates to the decision to take no further action in relation to two doctors: Dr S and Dr R.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 7th October 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Anthony Bradley: A Review of Jack Straw’s Hamlyn Lectures: Aspects of Law Reform: An Insider’s Perspective – UK Constitutional Law Group

“As the lecturer disarmingly tells us at the outset of the Hamlyn Lectures for 2012, the illustrious procession of Hamlyn lecturers since 1949 (Lord Denning) through to 2011 (Jeremy Waldron) has ‘without exception’ comprised ‘lawyers distinguished by their practice, their academic study or both’. Jack Straw is an exception. Since an LLB at Leeds and two years at the criminal bar, he has made his career in politics – holding glittering ministerial office, throughout the Blair-Brown years, as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, leader of the Commons, and Lord Chancellor.”

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Group, 7th October 2013

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Legal loophole closed to prosecute persistent fuel thieves – Daily Telegraph

“Motorists who repeatedly steal petrol by filling up and then claiming to have forgotten their wallets will no longer be able to escape criminal prosecution, after new guidance was issued to police forces.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 4th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Dominic Grieve under pressure to explain CPS decision not to prosecute over gender selection abortion scandal – Daily Telegraph

“Britain’s top law officer is to come under pressure in the House of Commons this week to say why the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute over the gender selection abortion scandal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CPS prosecutor resigns over ‘predatory’ comments on 13-year-old paedophile victim – The Independent

Posted October 1st, 2013 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news, professional conduct by sally

“A CPS prosecutor who described the 13-year-old victim of a paedophile ‘predatory’ in court will no longer undertake prosecutions involving serious sexual offences or child sexual abuse.”

Full story

The Independent, 30th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Surprise bid to put Shrien Dewani on trial in Britain – The Guardian

“Lawyers for Shrien Dewani, the honeymoon murder suspect, are to ask British prosecutors to consider bringing a case against him in a dramatic attempt to avoid a trial in South Africa.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Women are legally free to abort a baby because of its sex, says abortion charity head – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 18th, 2013 in abortion, charities, Crown Prosecution Service, doctors, equality, gender, news, prosecutions by sally

“The chief executive of Britain’s biggest abortion charity has said women are legally free to arrange an abortion because they are unhappy with the sex of their unborn baby.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Director of Public Prosecutions sets out charging standards for benefit and tax credit fraud – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, QC, has today published new guidelines for prosecutors dealing with fraud cases involving state benefits and tax credits. The charging standards will ensure a robust prosecutorial position is taken against those who commit fraud against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and will ensure a consistent approach to prosecution across the wide spectrum of criminal fraud.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 16th September 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Gender abortion decision ‘unconstitutional’ say MPs – Daily Telegraph

“An alliance of 50 MPs on Saturday accuses the Crown Prosecution Service of an ‘unconstitutional’ encroachment on the role of Parliament by refusing to bring charges against doctors linked to illegal abortions.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Benefit cheats could face jail terms of up to ten years – Daily Telegraph

“Benefit cheats could face jail terms of up to ten years under plans to crackdown on people who ‘flout the system’, the country’s top prosecutor will say on Monday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Michael Le Vell: the CPS had little choice but to prosecute – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2013 in children, Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, prosecutions, rape, sexual offences by tracey

“Following the actor’s acquittal, there have been claims of a witch-hunt, yet a complainant’s word has to be taken as evidence.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Michael Le Vell: CPS defends prosecution of Coronation Street actor – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 11th, 2013 in child abuse, Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, prosecutions, public interest by tracey

“Prosecutors last night defended the decision to put Michael Le Vell on trial insisting it was in the public interest to let the jury decide on his guilt or innocence.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Gender abortions: CPS accused of double standards after putting pro-life campaigners on trial – Daily Telegraph

“The Crown Prosecution Service has been accused of ‘double standards’ over abortion laws as campaign groups detailed how it brought criminal charges against a string of pro-life protesters yet refused to prosecute doctors over illegal practices.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CPS statement on abortion related case – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC said: ‘This was a very difficult and finely balanced decision. It was based on the individual facts of the case; it is not a policy decision. But in light of concerns raised today, I have decided that it would be sensible to put into the public domain the case specific reasons for not prosecuting in much greater detail. Clearly this will involve careful consideration of how much information can be put into the public domain by way of explanation, but my intention is for a fuller statement to made by the CPS in due course. In the mean time, I understand that the Health Secretary has written to the Attorney General asking for clarification and I am happy to assist him in any way.’ ”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 5th September 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk