§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Solicitor-General what action has been taken to reduce the number of(a) judge-ordered and (b) judge-directed acquittals since 1999. [60203]
§ The Solicitor-General:In 1999, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) introduced an adverse outcome analysis system. This provided CPS areas with a consistent means to identify reasons for adverse outcomes and also to allocate responsibility of any failure. This information is collated centrally.
For the last seven years, many areas of the CPS have had in place, with the police, a system of joint performance management that involves an appraisal of Crown Court acquittals, including those ordered and directed by the judge. This process has provided areas with information showing particular trends and a means by which improvements can be made.
Judge-ordered and judge-directed acquittals, 1999–2002 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 as % of completed cases as % of completed cases as % of completed cases Judge-ordered acquittals 9,616 11.1 10,145 12.3 11,825 14.0 Judge-directed acquittals 1,777 2.0 1,755 2.1 1,471 1.7