§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Solicitor-General if it is his policy that the Crown Prosecution Service should pay compensation to the victims of crime whose cases are the subject of administrative maladministration by the Crown Prosecution Service and who suffer loss as a result; and if he will make a statement. [147034]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe Crown Prosecution Service is committed to delivering a modern, first class, public service. The Crown Prosecution Service has set clear standards for performance and has a readily available complaints procedure together with systems to provide appropriate redress for citizens when administrative maladministration occurs. Redress may take a variety of forms—an apology, a correction of the error, an undertaking to improve procedures or systems, a payment, or a combination of these actions.
In the majority of cases, an apology and correction of the error will be the appropriate form of redress. On the occasions when a victim suffers a financial loss, an appropriate compensation payment may be made. Every case is considered on its merits. During this financial year two such cases have occurred and compensation payments totalling £1,112.00 have been made.