§ Mr. Lathamasked the Attorney-General what are the instructions given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Crown Prosecution Service in Leicestershire regarding bringing young persons under the age of 18 years before the courts who are alleged to have been involved in theft or malicious damage; and whether local prosecutors retain the discretion to insist upon a prosecution.
§ The Attorney-GeneralParagraphs 15 to 18 of the "Code for Crown Prosecutors", a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library, set out the guidelines for dealing with juvenile offenders. No specific guidelines have been issued in respect of juveniles accused of offences of theft or malicious damage. Local Crown prosecutors have a discretion in all cases, including cases involving juveniles, either to discontinue or continue prosecutions which have been initiated by the police, or to institute proceedings where the papers have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police for advice.
This policy is followed by all chief Crown prosecutors in England and Wales, including the chief Crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service area of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Attorney-General in what proportion of cases coming before magistrates' courts in Leicestershire the case for the Crown is put by a full-time employee of the Crown Prosecution Service; and what is the approximate equivalent proportion for the use of a solicitor in private practice retained by the service for that case.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince 1 June 1987 full-time Crown Prosecution Service lawyers have appeared to prosecute in 11 per cent. of the courts in the Leicestershire 477W area. The remaining 89 per cent. of courts have been covered by solicitors in private practice employed as agents. The relative proportion of cases within these figures cannot be ascertained incurring disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Attorney-General what is the total number of persons employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in Leicestershire; how many of them are qualified solicitors; and what is the estimated cost to public funds of the service in Leicestershire during the current financial year.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSeventy three persons are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire area. Of these, 42 are employed in Leicestershire. The number of qualified solicitors for the whole area is 18 and for Leicestershire is eight. The budget for the current financial year for the whole area is £2,571,321. Of this £1,240,604 represents salaries, of which approximately 60 per cent. is paid to staff working in Leicestershire.