Crown Prosecution Service

HC Deb 19 February 1987 vol 110 cc763-4W

Mr. Lawrence

asked the Attorney-General if he will make an assessment of the working to date of the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Solicitor-General

The Crown Prosecution Service became operational in all areas by 1 October 1986 after submitting to a very tight timetable. The staff in the crown prosecution service have worked extremely hard to build a completely new Department from scratch, and have since continued the task of consolidation and improvement. The foundations have been laid for a very professional, dedicated and efficient service. Neverthless, much remains to be done. In particular, more professional staff must be recruited in London. Inevitably, the new service will need some time to achieve everywhere the efficiency that has been reached in most parts in England and Wales already. I am confident that with the co-operation of all the other agencies involved in the prosecution process this goal can be attained.