§ 34. Mr. David HeathTo ask the Attorney-General under what circumstances community interest is taken into account by officers of the Crown Prosecution Service in determining whether to proceed with a prosecution. [51722]
The Attorney-GeneralThe twin criteria set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors require, first, that there should be sufficient evidence to afford a realistic prospect of conviction; and, secondly, that prosecution should be in the public interest. The prevalence of an offence in a particular area is a factor which should be taken into account and may require a prosecution where otherwise that might not be the case. The Crown Prosecution Service expects to work in conjunction with the statutory partnerships provided for by the Crime and Disorder Bill to implement local strategies for reducing crime and disorder.
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