Recent performance

A summary of our performance is shown below. More detailed information on our local targets can be found in the Area Business Plan.  The information below is based on data for the period April 2008 to March 2009.

Pre Charge Advice

The Crown Prosecution Service is the principal prosecuting authority in England and Wales. Under the statutory charging scheme we are responsible for determining the charge in all but minor cases, advising the police during the early stages of an investigation. CPS Northamptonshire operates from two charging centres in Northampton and Corby and during the period 2008-09 gave pre charge advice in 5,226 cases.

Magistrates Court

During 2008-09 over 10,000 cases were dealt with in Northamptonshire magistrates courts.

Our performance is measured in terms of whether the outcome of a case was successful. We aim to keep the number of unsuccessful cases as low as possible.  The target for attrition (unsuccessful outcomes) in cases receiving pre-charge advice was 23% or lower and the target for the discontinuance rate in cases receiving pre charge advice was 13% or lower.  CPS Northamptonshire met both of these targets.

The total percentage of cases with unsuccessful outcomes in 2008-09 was 16.9%, which was lower than the national average of 19.2%.

There are many different reasons why cases are discontinued, for example, due to witnesses not attending court or making a withdrawal statement.  The discontinuance rate in Northamptonshire was 9.4%, lower than the national average of 13.1%.

Crown Court

During 2008-09 over 1,000 cases were dealt with at Crown Court.

The target for attrition (unsuccessful outcomes) in cases receiving pre charge advice was 23% or lower and the target for the discontinuance rate was 11% or lower.  CPS Northamptonshire met both of these targets.

The percentage of cases with unsuccessful outcomes in 2008-09 was 11.8%, lower than the national average of 19.4%.

The discontinuance rate was 7.2%, lower than the national average of 11.6%.

Persistent Young Offenders

The government has set a target for all Persistent Young Offenders to be dealt with by the Criminal Justice System in 71 days from arrest to sentence.

We are working with our partners in the Criminal Justice System to ensure that Persistent Young Offenders in this county are being successfully dealt with within this timescale.

During the period January to March 2008 the average length of time in which Persistent Young Offenders were dealt with in Northamptonshire was 62 days.