§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Attorney-General if he will list the duties of the Director of Public Prosecutions in accordance with his answer to the hon. Member for Hampstead in the Official Report, 15 January, column 1315.
The Attorney-GeneralThe principal duties of the Director of Public Prosecutions are prescribed by the Prosecution of Offences Act 1879 and the Prosecution of Offences Regulations 1978 made there-under, both as amended. They are, briefly, to institute criminal proceedings and to give advice and assistance to the police in any case which appears to the Director to be of importance or difficulty.
Under various statutes the Director must exercise his discretion to institute criminal proceedings, or to consent to their institution by others, for those offences which by the relevant statute may only be prosecuted by him or with his consent.
241WUnder the Police Act 1964 the Director must receive and consider all complaints against police officers in respect of which the chief officers of police cannot be satisfied that no criminal offences have been committed.
Under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 the Director must discharge the functions of Official Petitioner in cases of criminal bankruptcy.
Other duties of the Director include matters under the Representation of the People Act 1949 and the Visiting Forces Act 1952 and advising the Law Officers and other Government Departments in criminal matters.
In exercising his duties the Director acts under the general superintendance of the Attorney-General.
The Director has published a pamphlet introducing and giving the text of the Prosecution of Offences Regulations 1978. A copy has been laid in the Library of the House.