§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to the police to ensure that evidence is provided to the prosecution in time for trial. [170564]
§ Paul GogginsThe Home Office publishes the "Manual of Guidance for the preparation, processing and submission of prosecution files". The manual is updated on a continual basis by the Manual of Guidance Editorial Board, comprising members of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service, (CPS) Home Office, the Cabinet Office and operational members of the prosecution team. The manual mandates how prosecution files are to be prepared and provided from the police to the CPS and takes into account at each revision any changes to legislation, policy or operational procedures.
The manual does not stipulate mandatory time scales within which the police must provide evidence to the prosecution, although the quality and timeliness of prosecution files is inherent to the processes outlined in the guidance.