Is the law being misused to undermine peaceful protest? – The Guardian

Posted July 21st, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, demonstrations, news, public order, trespass by sally

“The CPS may have dropped charges against 109 Fortnum and Mason protesters; but why are some still facing prosecution?”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fortnum & Mason protest: CPS drops charges against 109 UK Uncut activists – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, demonstrations, news, public interest, trespass by tracey

“The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped charges of aggravated trespass against 109 UK Uncut activists who occupied Fortnum & Mason in March, saying they are no longer in the public interest.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS in crisis as allegations of suppressed evidence wreck trials – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, disclosure, evidence, inquiries, news by tracey

“The Crown Prosecution Service faces a crisis following the abandonment of a series of trials after allegations of serious wrongdoing were made against its staff.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP announces details of independent inquiry into Ratcliffe-on-Soar cases – Crown Prosecution Service

“The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has asked retired High Court judge Sir Christopher Rose to conduct the independent inquiry into issues arising out of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station protest cases.”

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 13th July 2011

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Mark Kennedy’s secret tapes: CPS launches wide-ranging inquiry – The Guardian

“A leading former judge has been appointed to lead an expanded inquiry into claims that prosecutors suppressed secret surveillance tapes recorded by undercover police officer Mark Kennedy.Sir Christopher Rose, a retired court of appeal judge noted for his fierce independence, will head the inquiry which was set up by the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Alignment of prosecutions between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Crown Prosecution Service – Attorney General’s Office

“The Attorney General and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced today the transfer of Defra’s prosecution function to the CPS and the remainder of their legal team to the Treasury Solicitor’s Department.”

Full statement

Attorney General’s Office, 12th July 2011

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Former Director of Public Prosecutions says no question of conflict in News Corporation advice – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 13th, 2011 in conflict of interest, Crown Prosecution Service, interception, media, news by tracey

“Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, last night denied there was a conflict of interest when he advised Rupert Murdoch’s media company over the News of the World scandal.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th July 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

DPP responds to Louise Casey report with enhanced service to bereaved families – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 6th, 2011 in bereavement, courts, Crown Prosecution Service, families, murder, news, victims by sally

“The Crown Prosecution Service is extending its service for bereaved families at court, announced the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, today. He also welcomed the Victims Commissioners report: Review into the Needs of Families Bereaved by Homicide.”

Full story

Crown Prosecution Service, 6th July 2011

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Prosecutors to drop ‘significant’ number of Fortnum protest cases – The Independent

Posted July 6th, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, demonstrations, evidence, news, trespass by sally

“A ‘significant’ number of the hundreds of cases bought against UK Uncut activists who stormed a central London department store in March are expected to be dropped, according to prosecutors.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th July 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Challenge and opportunity – DPP speech to the Whitehall and Industry Group Lawyers Network – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted July 1st, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, speeches by tracey

“Thank you for inviting me to speak to you this evening. I would like to tell you something about the challenges the Crown Prosecution Service is currently facing and what we are doing about them.”

Full speech

Crown Prosecution Service, 16th June 2011

Source; www.cps.gov.uk

CPS – Changes to Advocate Panels Scheme – Message from the Chairman of the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted June 20th, 2011 in advocacy, barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news, prosecutions by sally

“As many members of the Bar will be aware, the CPS published a new Advocate Panels Scheme on 31 March 2011. The new scheme followed discussions between a Bar Council group consisting of Circuit, CBA and YBC representatives and the CPS.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 17th June 2011

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Mark Kennedy case: CPS accused of suppressing key evidence – The Guardian

“CPS opens inquiry after claims prosecutors withheld undercover police officer’s surveillance tapes from defence lawyers.”

Full story

The Guardian, 7th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dame Barbara Mills, former Director of Public Prosecutions, dies aged 70 – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 31st, 2011 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

“Dame Barbara Mills QC, the only woman ever to hold the post of Director of Public Prosecutions, has died at the age of 70.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th May 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

DPP’s statement on the decision to prosecute PC Simon Harwood – The Guardian

Posted May 24th, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, homicide, news, police by sally

“Keir Starmer QC announces that the Met police officer is to face criminal proceedings over the death of Ian Tomlinson.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

CPS gave woman’s phone number to her alleged stalker – BBC News

Posted May 20th, 2011 in complaints, Crown Prosecution Service, harassment, news by tracey

“A woman from west London is suing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after a series of blunders, including her phone number being given to a man who was accused of stalking her.”

Full story

BBC News, 20th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS under fire over advocate panels – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 20th, 2011 in advocacy, Crown Prosecution Service, judicial review, news by tracey

“The Crown Prosecution Service faced pressure from both its own inspectorate and the Bar Council this week over its procurement of external advocates. The Gazette has learned that the Bar Council is seeking advice on a judicial review of the CPS’s new advocate panels.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th May 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitor General: Speech to Annual Conference of the Institute of Money Laundering Prevention Officers – Attorney General’s Office

“Solicitor General: Speech to Annual Conference of the Institute of Money Laundering Prevention Officers on 16th May 2011.”

Full speech

Attorney General’s Office, 16th May 20111

Source: www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Theresa May hands power to prosecute back to police – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2011 in Crown Prosecution Service, news, police, prosecutions by sally

“The power to decide whether a suspect is to be charged is to be taken from crown prosecutors and handed back to the police in more than 80% of cases, the home secretary, Theresa May, will promise.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tomlinson inquest: Review to test evidence for a criminal trial – The Guardian

“The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, has ordered a review of his decision last year not to prosecute anyone in connection with the death of Ian Tomlinson.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th May 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawcast 183: Nichola Higgins, Chairman of The Young Barristers Committee on the new CPS panel – Career at the Criminal Bar – Legal aid issues – Charon WC

Posted April 21st, 2011 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, legal aid, podcasts by sally

“Today I am talking to Nichola Higgins, Chairman of the Young Barristers Committee. On the 30th March of this year, the CPS announced:

‘The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is today (30/3/2011) launching a new scheme for the delivery of prosecution services in court. All advocates undertaking prosecution work in the Crown Court (and Higher Courts) from October must be members of new, quality-controlled CPS Advocate Panels. The panels will be open to all barristers and solicitor advocates, and panel members will complement and work alongside CPS in-house advocates. Although the overall number of advocates on the panels will be reduced compared to the current lists, selected advocates will have more opportunity to undertake prosecution work. All current counsel lists will be abandoned when the panels commence on 1 October.’

We also looked at the broader health of the Criminal Bar, the impact of legal aid and the prospects for students contemplating a career at the Criminal Bar.”

Podcast

Charon QC, 21st April 2011

Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com

“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.