HC Deb 07 March 1996 vol 273 c336W
Dr. John Cunningham

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 1996,Official Report, column 695, what was the relationship between the two people who were the subject of the investigation by the Metropolitan police. [19358]

The Solicitor-General

Brother and sister.

Dr. Cunningham

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 15 February 1996,Official Report, column 695, what factors underlay the decision that it was not in the public interest to prosecute the woman against whom the Metropolitan police had established sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. [19359]

The Solicitor-General

In order to ensure fair and nationally consistent decisions on prosecutions, the Crown Prosecution Service follows the guidance set out in the code for Crown prosecutors. Copies of the code, which is issued under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, are available in the Library of the House. Section 6 of the code deals with the factors commonly taken into account in determining where the public interest lies. Those factors were applied in this case.