UK NEWS

DROPPED PROSECUTION RATE 'TOO HIGH'

Monday March 10,2008

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More than 2,000 cases had to be dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service last year because prosecutors were not ready for court, it has been reported.

The service said its "throw-out rate" had improved but said it needed to do more.

Cases including burglary, theft, assault and drugs charges had to be abandoned as a result of the failings, The Times reported.

The figures will be released in a report by the inspectors of the CPS.

CPS chief inspector Stephen Wooler said the issue had been raised in previous inspectors' reports.

He said there "continued to be too high a number" of abandoned cases.

In total 2,325 cases were not prosecuted because CPS personnel were not ready, it says.

That represents some 2.5% of the total number of cases that should go to Crown Court.

The paper reported that magistrates, who decide if cases should go to the higher court, were taking a tougher line with prosecutors who are not ready.

I CAN THINK OF ONE CASE IN PARTICULAR

11.03.08, 6:46pm

I can think of one case in particular that was dropped without justifcation... something about selling peerages.

• Posted by: NathanHobbs • Report Comment

CRIMINAL PROTECTION SERVICE -NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE

11.03.08, 11:10am

They should all be sacked.

Prosecutions should be determined by an experianced Desk Sergent, who, using local Criminal Lawyers, who have had Prosecution experiance and a reputation for winning.

The CPS is manned by failed Lawyers who would never be employed by a private firm., not least of all, because they rarely have the right file with them.

As they say in the CPS..."NO FURTHER EVIDENCE ..M'LORD "
Sack them all.They are of no value to the honest British Public.

• Posted by: JonO • Report Comment