HC Deb 24 July 1998 vol 316 c699W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about the ethical principles which apply to solicitors who are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service as Crown prosecutors. [52712]

The Attorney-General

After consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions, I have today published a Statement of Ethical Principles, which applies to all solicitors who are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service as Crown Prosecutors. The Statement is made in accordance with paragraph 1(h)(v) of the Law Society's Employed Solicitor Code 1990. It meets the Law Society's requirement under the Code that such a statement should be published before solicitors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service can exercise their rights of audience in the higher courts.

The Statement sets out:

  1. 1. the inter-relationship between Crown Prosecutors' obligations as civil servants and as members of the legal profession;
  2. 2. the position of Crown Prosecutors as prosecutors and Crown Prosecution Service employees; and
  3. 3. the position of Crown Prosecutor solicitors who exercise rights of audience in the higher courts.

I am placing a copy of the Statement in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.