Our 'hate crime' case-handling is scrutinised

Members of the capital's community have been invited to examine how CPS London handles 'hate crime' cases.

A nine-strong panel has been formed to review case files of racial and religious-aggravated crimes, domestic violence and rape, homophobic crimes and offences committed against disabled and elderly people.

Under the initiative, which will make CPS London more accountable to the public, lessons learned by the panel will help the Service improve its case-handling and encourage more victims and witnesses to report crime.

Meeting four times a year, the Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel is chaired by Cindy Butts, an independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Legal advisor is Treasury Counsel Bobbie Cheema, who presents the cases and guides panel members through legal and procedural technicalties.

She said: "Everyone should admire an organisation that allows itself to be scrutinised and makes a positive decision to learn from the outcome.

"There's a lot of good work that goes on in the CPS. On the other side, however, all of us can become comfortable or complacent in the way we do things.

"Our own standards benefit from being challenged, and good practice deserves the widest dissemination."

At the panel's first meeting members examined four cases - two rapes and two domestic violence.

A number of panellists admitted they would not have thought of issues such as taking steps to strengthen evidence and prosecuting a defendant in the absence of a victim. Both actions featured in cases that were scrutinised.

CPS London lawyer Jason Bishop, left, who handled one of the domestic violence cases, was praised by the panel.

He was serving as duty prosecutor at Stoke Newington Charging Centre, North East London, when he was consulted by police investigating a suspected assault.

The victim was at her boyfriend's home when her former partner and father of their child broke into the flat. She declined to make a statement to police about the damage and the assault.

Jason decided to listen to the tape of the police interview with the suspect. In it, the man admitted breaking a window to gain entry to the flat, spitting at the victim and "pulling her about". These key facts did not feature in the police documents.

With further evidence of blood specks reported by police at the scene, Jason authorised charges of using violence to secure entry to a premises and common assault.

The defendant admitted both offences at Thames' Magistrates Court. He was sentenced to a two-year community order and ordered to take part in a domestic violence programme.

Jason said: "I took the pragmatic view that we had enough evidence from the tape and from the officers at the scene to prosecute him.

"Since the victim had refused to co-operate with the police, summonsing her would have led to further difficulties."