HC Deb 12 June 1997 vol 295 cc533-4W
Ms Merron

To ask the Attorney-General what progress has been made in establishing the proposed review of the Crown Prosecution Service to which he referred in his written answer to the hon. Member for Salford (Ms Blears) on 21 May,Official Report, columns 73–74. [3979]

The Attorney-General

I am extremely pleased that Sir Iain Glidewell, a retired Lord Justice of Appeal, has agreed to chair the independent Review of the Crown Prosecution Service. He will be assisted by Sir Geoffrey Dear who retires at the end of this week as HM Inspector of Constabulary and (a person with management and organisational experience). Sir Iain proposes to commence work on Monday 16 June 1997. The Review will examine closely the internal structures of the Crown Prosecution Service, together with its policies and procedures. It will also consider ways to enable the Crown Prosecution Service to inform victims of crime about prosecutions decisions. The Review will have the following terms of reference:

Against the background of the decision that the CPS should in future be divided so that there are Chief Crown Prosecutors in all police force areas but within a national framework, to: examine the organisation and structure of the CPS, including the role of Headquarters, together with CPS policies and procedures and to consider whether and, if so, what changes are necessary in order to provide for the more effective and efficient prosecution of crime through local public prosecutors;

Without prejudice to the generalities of the above for that purpose, to: assess whether the CPS has contributed to the falling number of convictions for recorded crime; consider the manner in which the CPS influences its relationship with the police; consider the validity of criticisms that the CPS has led to unjustified "downgradings" of charges; and make and cost recommendations taking account of the need to operate within existing provision.

Sir Iain will aim to submit his report to me by the end of 1997. He will be seeking views and contributions from a wide range of sources including the Crown Prosecution Service and its staff as well as other criminal justice agencies and legal practitioners. The Report will be published.