§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a copy of the manual of guidance issued to Crown prosecutors in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement as to the criteria upon which a decision to prosecute is based, as set out in the manual.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe criteria upon which such a decision is based are set out in the code for Crown prosecutors issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions pursuant to section 10 of the Prosecutions of Offences Act 1985. Copies of that code are available to the public. My predecessor caused a copy to be placed in the Library on 25 June 1986, as he announced in his answer of the same date to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood (Mr. Howarth). Crown prosecutors are issued also with manuals of guidance. I am discussing with the Director of Public Prosecutions whether it would be proper to cause copies to be placed in the Library.