HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 cc22-3W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ribble Valley constituency, the effects on Ribble Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157849]

The Solicitor-General

The Ribble Valley constituency falls largely within the geographical area covered by the Crown Prosecution Service office at Burnley. A Trials Unit has very recently been established there to deal with Crown court casework arising in north-east Lancashire. This will enable greater emphasis to be placed on the conduct of more serious cases and is part of an ongoing reorganisation within CPS Lancashire, in line with recommendations of the Glidewell Review.

At Preston police station, a Criminal Justice Unit, staffed jointly by the police and CPS is being piloted. Criminal Justice Units enable the police and prosecutors to work together more effectively.

At the beginning of November 1999, in line with national policy, and in liaison with police and Lancashire Magistrates Courts Service, the Crown Prosecution Service implemented the Narey recommendations throughout Lancashire, following a pilot in north-east Lancashire. All defendants charged with a criminal offence now make their first appearance before magistrates courts in the area within 48 hours.

The Crown Prosecution Service, together with other agencies, has also helped to draw up an action plan and associated procedures to speed up youth justice, particularly in relation to persistent young offenders. The latest published figures show that Lancashire was one of four areas in the country which achieved the Government's target of 71 days or less between arrest and sentence during the year 2000 as a whole.

Both the Narey changes and the steps on persistent young offenders demonstrate that the Government have successfully speeded up the criminal justice system.

Actions and policies of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Serious Fraud Office do not directly affect the Ribble Valley constituency.