Successes of the Month November 2011

Contents

• Heidi Stonecliffe helps put a London gang behind bars
• Joanne Cunliffe, Sam Baxter, Mohsin Patel and Jennifer Haworth get 120 years for drugs gang
• Alan Blake and Simon Heptonstall help clean up troubled estate
• Yvette Levy improves life for Hull residents with Drink Banning Orders
• Honourable mentions: more examples of outstanding work

Heidi Stonecliffe, Crown Advocate, CPS London

Prosecutor helps to put North London gang behind bars

Heidi played a pivotal role in the successful prosecution of a group of 37 young traders and drug suppliers between August 2010 and September 2011, 30 of whom were gang members. They received sentences totalling nearly 470 years.

Local communities had asked the police to help reduce organised and violent crime in Enfield. Officers set up a music shop, where they were able to film the trading of firearms, ammunition and drugs. Raids followed, revealing a gun conversion factory, weapons, drugs and cash.

As well as handling all the preliminary hearings and the majority of trials and entrapment arguments, Heidi also advised on a range of factual and legal arguments. She has since obtained significant Confiscation Orders against a number of the defendants

The working relationship between the police, CPS and courts was described as "exceptionally good" and Heidi sees the outcome of the operation and her own experience of working on the case as both a privilege and a testament to what can be achieved when the police and CPS work closely with one another from the outset of a case.

Senior District Crown Prosecutor Lionel Idan said: "Heidi worked tirelessly on this case from the arrest phase right through to confiscation. It is a measure of Heidi's skill and exceptional dedication that a large illegal firearms factory was successfully shut down with many weapons taken out of circulation and an entire gang dismantled in the process. This case serves as a textbook example of strong partnership working between the CPS and the Metropolitan Police."

Crown Advocate Joanne Cunliffe, Paralegal Officer Sam Baxter and Administrators Mohsin Patel and Jennifer Haworth, CPS North West

Over 120 years in prison for drugs gang

In total, eight defendants were sentenced to 124 years for a conspiracy to import large amounts of cocaine into the UK from Europe between January and May 2008 and as a result a major organised crime group has been dismantled.

A large scale drugs investigation led to the seizure of 105kg of cocaine at Harwich Docks in May 2008. The drugs, which had an estimated street value of £14m, were concealed within boxes that formed part of a bogus military personnel's furniture load and were destined for supply in towns and cities in the North of England.

The case was complex and huge, with 12,900 pages of evidence and 348 witnesses, some of whom had to travel from Germany and the Netherlands to give evidence. 25 agencies were involved, including Dutch, German and Irish police and the corresponding prosecution authorities, as well as the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs. Joanne Cunliffe, in particular, had contact with many authorities of whom she had had no previous experience.

Eight weeks into the trial the jury was discharged and a second trial was ordered. Preparation for the retrial involved several abuse of process arguments, all unsuccessful, and other lengthy legal arguments. Following trial six defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to import Class A drugs. A seventh man had pleaded guilty before the trial.

Throughout the case police had attempted to locate an eighth gang member and in May 2011 he was finally arrested by Cheshire Police following an unrelated stop and check.

CCU Head, John Dilworth, said: "This successful outcome was attributable to the dedication and commitment of Joanne Cunliffe and Sam Baxter in 'front of house', with the invaluable 'back room' assistance of Mohsin Patel and Jennifer Haworth. Mohsin and Jenny played an invaluable role which should not be underestimated nor overlooked. The whole team have my personal thanks and admiration. They are a true advertisement for the professionalism of our service".

Senior Crown Advocates Alan Blake and Simon Heptonstall, CPS Thames and Chiltern

Serving their community by prosecuting burglars, thieves and drug dealers on a Slough estate

In total there were 17 defendants involved in three different conspiracies around the Britwell Estate in Slough, where thefts of cars and theft of items from vehicles and houses - offences related to the local drugs trade - were common. Depending on their age and degree of involvement, the defendants received sentences ranging from onerous community orders up to seven and a half years in prison.

Simon said: "Such offences undermine the quality of life in the local area, causing great upset and disruption, particularly when laptops that contain important work or treasured photographs are taken. In contrast to their true values, the stolen items are sold on through criminal networks for just tens of pounds, often to fuel drug habits.

"It is by this sort of dedicated and determined work that the CPS helps the communities it serves. The effects of this operation will be felt for years to come."

His Honour Judge John, who sentenced the defendants, described the operation as a conspicuous success on the Britwell estate.

He commended all the CPS staff involved in the case, and said: "the Court would like to commend in particular the diligence and attention to detail of the two Senior Crown Advocates who have prepared and presented these cases, Mr Alan Blake and Mr Simon Heptonstall."

Community Team Prosecutor Yvette Levy, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside

Improving the lives of Hull residents through Drink Banning Orders

Hull has seen a big improvement in the number of drink related offences, thanks to the intervention of the CPS' Community Team Prosecutor Yvette Levy.

Yvette worked with the police and courts to issue 63 drink banning orders (DBOs) in seven months, and went out on patrol with city centre officers to see the results first hand.

She said: "Local people have told us that drink related violence in the city centre causes concern. In order to tackle this we have had a big push on DBOs. Violent crime in this area has reduced by 15 per cent when we compare this year with last year. That's 105 fewer victims."

DBOs can be issued by the courts to anyone who has committed an offence under the influence of alcohol and where the court believe that it is necessary to prevent a repeat of drink-related offending. The orders can include a number of conditions including stopping people entering the area. If they are found in the area, they can be arrested.

Humberside Police Sergeant Andy Parsons said: "DBOs have been a fantastic preventative measure, with several people being arrested and dealt with for breaching their orders.

"We've worked closely with the CPS to achieve this reduction in crime and it's great to see lawyers proactively coming out on patrol to see the impact of our joint work."

Honourable mentions

Julia McSorley, Lawyer, and Bally Ray, Caseworker, West Midlands Public Protection Unit

Julia and Bally were given 'Good Citizen' Awards by West Midlands Police following a case involving the rape of a sex worker that was fraught with difficulties. The victim's evidence had initially been corroborated by her boyfriend, who then disappeared. The victim herself was subsequently detained, and was not initially released to give evidence. She then needed to be supported during the trial, as she was vulnerable and in withdrawal from drugs. Despite all these issues, Julia and Bally managed to gain a conviction and a sentence of 6 years for the defendant, Ali Mohammed Zada.

Jane Woodhead, Senior Crown Prosecutor, West Midlands

Jane's perseverance and bold, robust decision-making gained a conviction against a registered sex offender that may not otherwise have happened. Dominic Knight was in possession of naturist DVDs that were legal and commercially available. However, he had created new material using these DVDs and another video camera to zoom in, creating close-up shots of naked young girls and their genitalia. Jane's difficulty was that there was a total lack of case law on this point, but she decided, by analysis of the law and facts of the case, that it was perfectly arguable and appropriate to prosecute Knight for making indecent images of children. Knight was prosecuted and pleaded guilty at an early stage to nine counts, receiving 10 months' imprisonment concurrent for each charge. This case sends out a strong message of the CPS' commitment to push the boundaries of the law in appropriate cases.