§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 694, if he will make a statement on what is (a) the basis of and (b) justification for the general gravity and specific gravity system for police officers' use when determining whether or not to charge a suspect with an offence and which offence to charge. [29660]
§ Mr. MacleanDecisions on charging are matters for chief officers and the Crown Prosecution Service. Where systems containing gravity factors are in use, I understand that they are intended to ensure a more consistent and robust approach to decision making by bringing to the attention of officers all the relevant facts of a case.