§ 31. Mr. ChopeTo ask the Attorney-General how many applications he has received in the last year for him to halt private prosecutions. [74112]
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The Attorney-GeneralThe only power vested in me to halt proceedings is the right to enter a nolle prosequi, which is confined to cases proceeding on indictment in the Crown Court. It is usually more appropriate for requests to stop proceedings to be considered by the Crown Prosecution Service, which does have the power to intervene in all criminal cases.
Comprehensive statistics relating to applications for nolle prosequi are not kept and in any event would not separately identify those relating to private prosecutions.