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

First female genital mutilation prosecution ‘close’, says CPS – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, female genital mutilation, news, prosecutions by tracey

“The likelihood of the first prosecution in the UK for female genital mutilation is higher than ever before, the director of public prosecutions says.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Hunt concerned by lack of prosecutions in gender abortion case – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2013 in abortion, Crown Prosecution Service, gender, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

“The CPS’s decision not to prosecute two doctors who have been accused of offering to arrange abortions based on gender is ‘concerning’, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th Sepetember 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court failings scupper 500 cases a week – The Independent

Posted September 5th, 2013 in courts, Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, reports, victims, witnesses by sally

“More than 500 court cases are being thrown out or delayed each week due to failings by prosecutors or in the court system, it has been claimed.”

Full story

The Independent, 5th September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

West Midlands CPS pair jailed for £1m taxi fares scam – BBC News

Posted September 2nd, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, expenses, fraud, news, sentencing, taxis by sally

“A former Crown Prosecution Service finance manager and her partner have been jailed for making bogus expenses claims worth more than £1m.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th August 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Stalking laws lead to just 33 convictions in first six months – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 2nd, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions, sentencing, stalking, statistics by sally

“Police officers should receive better training in how to use new anti-stalking laws after only 33 people were convicted under the legislation in its first six months, a new report has claimed.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Football hooligans face ban from World Cup and Euros under CPS guidelines – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have today (23 August 2013) published a joint policy for dealing with violence, disorder, criminal damage and abuse in and around football matches this season.”

Full press release

Full guidelines

Crown Prosecution Service, 23rd August 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Syrian refugee jailed in UK for using false papers – The Guardian

“Campaigners say conviction of asylum seeker for using fake papers and similar cases is abuse of immigration law.”

Full  story

The Guardian, 24th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Should the CPS Give Press Conferences? – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

“Do CPS press conferences after charge risk prejudicing a trial, asks Dan Bunting.”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 10th August

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

‘Crackers’ £7.50 criminal damage claim against former Army captain – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 9th, 2013 in boundaries, criminal damage, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

A judge has criticised the Crown Prosecution Service as ‘crackers’ for taking a retired Army captain to court for £7.49 worth of alleged damage to a wooden fence.

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barrister who called child sex abuse victim ‘predatory’ criticised by DPP – The Guardian

“A prosecuting barrister and a judge involved in a sex abuse case during which the 13-year-old-victim was described as “predatory” have been referred to separate inquiries.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence barrister to become director of public prosecutions – The Guardian

Posted July 23rd, 2013 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news by tracey

“Alison Saunders will become only second female DPP when she replaces Keir Starmer later this year.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP to meet judge following prosecution ‘farce’ in murder trial – Law Society’s Gazette

“Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), is to meet Richard Griffith-Jones, the judge who made a scathing attack on the Crown Prosecution Service after a murder trial descended into farce last month.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th July 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New DPP guidance on concurrent jurisdiction published – Crown Prosecution Service

“The CPS has today published the final guidelines for Crown Prosecutors handling cases where more than one country or jurisdiction is investigating criminal conduct.”

Full guidelines

Crown Prosecution Service, 17th July 2013

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Legal aid reforms could undermine fundamental principles of justice, warns CPS – The Independent

“Government plans to reform legal aid for criminal suspects could undermine the fundamental principles of justice in England and Wales, the official prosecuting body has suggested.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

CPS severely hampered by lack of resources, says report – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2013 in case management, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions, reports by sally

“A lack of resources is severely damaging the Crown Prosecution Service’s preparation of cases for court, according to a critical report by the organisation’s statutory watchdog.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Keir Starmer to launch inquiry into fall in reports of rape and domestic violence – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2013 in crime, Crown Prosecution Service, domestic violence, inquiries, news, police, rape by sally

“The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, is to launch an inquiry into why police forces are reporting fewer cases of rape, domestic violence and child abuse than they were two years ago.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS employee ‘added defendant on Facebook’ – BBC News

“An employee working for the Crown Prosecution Service added a defendant on Facebook, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.”

Full story

BBC News, 10th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years – BBC News

“A report written 17 years ago into claims of abuse at children’s homes in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s has been published.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS under fire for failures in two serious cases – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 25th, 2013 in Crown Prosecution Service, delay, news, professional conduct, trials by sally

The Crown Prosecution Service has been criticised by two separate Crown court judges after sending an ‘incompetent’ advocate to prosecute a murder trial and for ‘lamentable failures’ that delayed a rape trial.

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th June 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk