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The Role of The Crown Prosecution Service

The Crown Prosecution Service is the government department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales.

As the principal prosecuting authority in England and Wales, we are responsible for:

  • advising the police on cases for possible prosecution
  • reviewing cases submitted by the police
  • determining any charges in more serious or complex cases
  • preparing cases for court
  • presenting cases at court

Find out more about the role of the Crown Prosecution Service

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS responds to PAC report on the effective use of magistrates' courts hearings

CPS responds to PAC report on the effective use of magistrates' courts hearings

19/10/2006

The Crown Prosecution Service welcomed the Public Accounts Committee report on the CPS's effective use of magistrates' courts hearings, published today, and said work in progress had already resulted in improvements.

The proportion of ineffective trials has declined sharply since the study was undertaken and continues to fall. The ineffective trial rate fell from 31 per cent in July-September 2002 to 23 per cent in January-March 2005. Since then, progress has continued with a further fall in the ineffective trial rate to 19 per cent for June-August 2006. Just over 1.3 million offences were brought to justice in the year ending March 2006 - up 32 per cent on the year ending March 2002.

Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald QC said: "We acknowledge that there are too many ineffective hearings in magistrates' courts and we have a whole series of actions in place to address the problems. We are already seeing improvements as a result and I expect that to continue.

"However, most of the responsibility for ineffective trials lies with the defence. The CPS is directly responsible for only 17 per cent of the costs identified by the PAC. In just over half of the cases where the trial did not go ahead, the defence was responsible.

"There are cross-Government issues which need a cross-Government solution and we are working very closely with our partners in the criminal justice system to take forward initiatives which will transform the way we do business in the magistrates' courts."

Work in hand across the criminal justice system to reduce ineffective trials and hearings includes:

  • "Simple, speedy summary justice" announced by the three criminal justice Ministers in July 2006 which will improve the effectiveness of magistrates' courts hearings;
  • A new business model to be introduced by the CPS, drawing on the good practice, for example in Cardiff, that the PAC report identifies;
  • Lord Carter's proposals for a system of fixed fees for criminal legal aid work that will give a further incentive to defence practitioners to progress cases promptly and efficiently - fixed fees remove financial incentives to delay the progress of cases.

Other major initiatives implemented by the CPS include the charging programme which provides a 24-hour service to the police to get the charges right first time; the No Witness, No Justice programme which provides advice and practical support to prosecution witnesses through Witness Care Units; and the Effective Trial Management Programme which improves the management of the trial process in magistrates' courts and will secure better listing arrangements.

Mr Macdonald said: "These initiatives have contributed a good deal to the improvements in performance and the reductions in ineffective trials, and demonstrate what can be achieved when the main criminal justice agencies are able to work together."

  1. A formal response to the PAC report will be provided through a Treasury Minute.
  2. See Department for Constitutional Affairs press release of 21 July at dca.co.uk for more details on "Simple, speedy summary justice".
  3. Media enquiries to CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8106.