HC Deb 07 February 1997 vol 289 c764W
Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the handling by the Crown Prosecution Service of allegations of criminal conduct made against police officers by members of the public which are reportable to the Director of Public Prosecutions under the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. [15265]

The Attorney General

The Crown Prosecution Service from its inception until 31 January 1997 handled such cases in accordance with the arrangements set out in paragraph 12 of the White Paper (Cmnd 9411) published in December 1984. With the exception of cases involving allegations of non-fatal motoring offences, they were dealt with by specialist teams comprising part of the CPS central casework in order to avoid any suggestion that decisions might be influenced by the working relationship between the public and local Crown prosecutors. However, an internal review concluded that central handling is no longer necessary to achieve this nor is it desirable for any other reason. Following consultations with interested parties, new arrangements have been agreed with police forces for the majority of cases involving allegations of criminal conduct by police officers to be considered by the CPS at local level. To guard against local influence, these cases will be assigned to CPS lawyers with suitable experience who have no working relationship or other connection with the officer concerned. Wherever possible, cases will be handled in a CPS branch which covers a different police force from the one in which the officer serves.

A list of those cases which will continue to be dealt with by CPS central casework has been placed in the Libraries of the House. They are the more serious or complex cases and include allegations involving interference with the administration of justice, corruption, offences alleged to have been committed by officers of the rank of superintendent and above and cases involving deaths in police custody.

The new arrangements came into effect in most police areas on 3 February 1997.