§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases referred to the DPP in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years a decision was made not to prosecute; and in how many cases he contacted the(a) victims and (b) relatives of the victim. [38400]
1597W
§ The Solicitor-GeneralInformation held by the Department of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland indicates that directions for no prosecution issued as follows:
Year Persons reported for consideration of prosecution Persons in respect of whom no prosecution was directed 1999 10,676 3,225 (30 per cent.) 2000 10,504 3,166 (30 per cent.) 2001 10,315 3,110 (30 per cent.) The Department does not hold information in regard to contact with victims on their relatives in individual cases. The policy of the Department is that it will consider the proper interests of victims and witnesses at every stage of the criminal process.