§ 31. Mr. Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby)If he will make a statement regarding the developments in working relationships between the North Yorkshire police and the Crown Prosecution Service in Scarborough and Whitby. [98868]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe CPS and the police in north Yorkshire continue to build on their excellent working relationships through the successful implementation of the Narey measures to reduce delay. They are currently working closely together in the planning for the implementation of the Glidewell criminal justice and trial units.
§ Mr. QuinnWill my hon. and learned Friend say how effective the CPS has been in the Scarborough and Whitby area in delivering the Government's key manifesto pledge to reduce the time taken to bring persistent young offenders to trial? When I meet law enforcement officers in the area, I get the impression that we are doing better than merely delivering on that pledge. Is not that an example for the whole country?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralMy hon. Friend is right. I just happen to have with me the figures for Scarborough, which show that the average time for bringing persistent 751 young offenders to trial there has fallen to 36 days. That is well below the target average of 71 days, and gives the lie to the point made by the hon. Member for South Dorset (Mr. Bruce) a few moments ago. I should add that the Scarborough office's record has been very good in that regard, and was used as an example for the Narey provisions.
I know that my hon. Friend has good relations with the CPS. His constituency office contacts the service from time to time, and he spent a long time with the service in the summer. He has a reputation as a hard-working local Member of Parliament, and his visit to the Scarborough office of the CPS was very much appreciated.