HC Deb 23 April 2001 vol 367 cc23-4W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Solicitor-General if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Tiverton and Honiton constituency, the effects on Tiverton and Honiton of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157805]

The Solicitor-General

The Tiverton and Honiton constituency falls within the geographical area covered by the Devon and Cornwall area of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In November 1999, in line with national policy, CPS Devon and Cornwall, in liaison with the police and the central Devon magistrates court, introduced procedures based on the Narey proposals. All adult defendants charged with a criminal offence in central Devon should make their first appearance before Exeter, Tiverton or Honiton magistrates courts within eight days. Due to the imminent court rationalisation, Tiverton court is due for closure.

A CPS Crown court unit, based in Exeter, deals with serious crime at Exeter Crown court and Barnstaple Crown court. The CPS has set as a goal the better handling of serious cases in the interests of justice and of victims. From 15 January 2001, a fast-track procedure was adopted which will ensure that offences which must be heard in the Crown court normally come before a judge within eight clear days of their first hearing in the magistrates court.

The CPS, together with other agencies, has been working to speed up youth justice, particularly cases involving persistent young offenders. The time taken for Persistent Youth cases has fallen in the CPS Devon and Cornwall area from 141 days in 1997 to 60 days in 2000. This places Devon and Cornwall at the top of the national league.

All these changes illustrate the Government's successful policy of speeding up the criminal justice system.

On 30 November 2000, the Exeter office of CPS Devon and Cornwall altered its structure so as to fall in line with proposals in the Glidewell Review. This represents a policy of more effective working between the police and prosecutors and will enable the CPS to place greater emphasis on the more serious criminal cases.

Actions and policies of the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Serious Fraud Office do not directly affect the Tiverton and Honiton constituency.