Inspiring Confidence in the Communities We Serve
Community Engagement
To further enhance local engagement, the CPS has set up Area-based Hate Crime Scrutiny Panels (HCSPs), Group-level Community Involvement Panels (CIPs) and at national level, a Community Accountability Forum. The HCSPs consider performance on handling of hate crime cases by scrutinising finalised case files and acting on the learning derived from the scrutiny process. The CIPs are consulted on strategies, business plans and community engagement plans. The national Community Accountability Forum is consulted in relation to the national CPS business plan, revised vision and strategy, equality impact assessments and on draft policy statements and guidance. In addition to these standing community forums, individual Areas undergo a bi-annual assessment of their performance in relation to their other engagement work with community groups, schools, colleges, victims and witnesses and the public in general.
Case Study
In partnership with Derbyshire County Council, CPS Derbyshire has developed an innovative and comprehensive two hour lesson as part of the schools' citizenship curriculum. The interactive lesson includes understanding the role of the CPS, special measures, and taking on the role of a CPS prosecutor. A lesson plan for teachers has also been developed. The lessons have been positively received by schools and students. The full set of teaching materials can now be utilised by all CPS Areas.
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
During 2007/08, the CPS continued to contribute to the multi-agency programme of work to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) led by the Home Office ASB and Crime Prevention Unit. The network of specialist ASB prosecutors, which was established in 2004, was extended to ensure that all CPS Groups had a lead prosecutor to improve ASB work locally by:
- Developing and delivering training to prosecutors on applications for orders on conviction and prosecution of breach of ASBOs;
- Providing advice to prosecutors on the full range of enforcement measures and key issues in addressing ASB;
- Developing partnership working between the CPS, police, and other relevant agencies involved in taking action against ASB;
- Engaging with partner agencies and the community to develop a greater awareness of the issues of concern to the locality; and
- Providing expert tuition at a series of regional workshops run jointly with the Home Office ASB and Crime Prevention Unit.
Recovering Proceeds of Crime
The latest figures show that for 2007/08 the police and CPS obtained 3,995 confiscation orders to a value of £91,994,323 against end of year targets of 3,856 (volume) and £87,385,000 (value). Volume performance has increased by 22% and value performance has increased by 30% compared with 2006/07.
The police and the CPS have also exceeded the 2007/08 restraint order target, obtaining 1,119 restraint orders against a target of 642 orders. This represents an increase of 73% compared with 2006/07.
SOCA and the CPS have obtained 114 confiscation orders to a value of £9,776,845 and 71 restraint orders for the financial year 2007/08. SOCA figures are not included in the national totals.
As part of CSR 2007, asset recovery has now become a PSA target (24), to recover £250 million of criminal assets by 2009/10. Accordingly, the all-agency asset recovery target for 2008/09 is to collect £200 million of which £120 million is to come from confiscation and this will include the enforcement of confiscation orders obtained by CPS and other agencies.
In excess of £65 million has been enforced in respect of CPS confiscation orders in 2007/08. Over £13.5 million of this has been enforced by the CPS Area enforcement champions compared with £3.2 million in 2006/07.
Case Study
John Gizzi, career criminal
The CPS was recognised at the Home Office Tackling Drug Supply Awards in April 2008.
The award was in relation to North Wales Police's Operation Hawthorn, a multi-agency investigation into career criminal, John Gizzi.
CPS Greater Manchester North West Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) Crown Advocate, Kath Greenwood, was among the team who won the "Best Practice in Asset Recovery" award.
At a confiscation hearing in March 2007 Gizzi was ordered to hand over £2.6 million in ill-gotten gains.
John Gizzi's mansion and Bentley
Kath handled the entire restraint of his assets in-house. She spent a significant amount of time on the confiscation.
After the restraint order was made she managed Gizzi's properties, preserving their value and agreeing their sale as required, at the best possible price.
Kath added: "His imprisonment and the confiscation of all his assets has publicly dismantled his criminal empire and demonstrated to the community that crime does not pay."
Hate Crimes
In 2007/08, the CPS reviewed its performance in the prosecution of hate crimes. This included domestic violence, homophobic crime, and for the first time disability hate crimes and a disaggregation of religiously aggravated from racially aggravated crimes. From November 2007, data on support for hate crime specialist services and same sex domestic violence cases have been recorded. By March 2008, there was a 32% increase in recorded hate crime cases compared with 2005/06, with domestic violence accounting for 82% of these cases. Convictions increased from 65.7% of hate crime outcomes in 2006 to 72.4% by quarter ending March 2008 against a target of 72% by April 2008, while convictions for domestic violence increased from 63.5% to 70.7% against a target of 70% by April 2008. By quarter ending March 2008, 27 Areas had already reached the target for April 2008 for hate crimes as had 30 Areas for domestic violence. The first Hate Crime report is due to be published in autumn 2008.
Case Study
In December 2007, Thomas Blue was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 17 years for the murder of Adam Michalski. Blue stabbed Adam several times, including a fatal strike to the heart at Beechley Service station.
His Honour Judge John Rogers QC expressly stated that two years had been added to the minimum tariff to reflect the racial element of the offence that had been cited by the prosecution as an aggravating factor during the trial.
The trial was concluded four months after Blue's arrest, and was a testament to the partnership working of North Wales Police and North Wales CPS, and their commitment to ensuring the toughest penalties for those who are motivated by racism.
Domestic Violence
The CPS continues to contribute to the government's strategy to tackle domestic violence. The Good Practice Domestic Violence Guidance was used to develop Area Business Plans in 2007/08. These plans included training for all prosecutors and caseworkers by April 2008, development of further specialist domestic violence courts (SDVC) and performance management of cases.
The CJS national SDVC programme, selected a total of 64 SDVCs for implementation by April 2007. Further selection of SDVCs took place in early 2008, bringing the total to almost 100 by April 2008, with supporting Independent Domestic Violence Advisors to assist victims and multi-agency risk assessment panels (MARACs) to assess victim risk.
In June 2007, a pilot on the prosecution of forced marriage and so-called honour crime cases started in four Areas – Lancashire, London, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. The pilot aims to identify the number and patterns of cases; determine issues facing prosecutors in identifying, managing and prosecuting these cases; and inform the development of any national guidance and training for prosecutors to reduce risk and increase support for victims. The results of the pilot will be reported in summer 2008.
West Midlands CPS launched a leaflet with the aim of encouraging more victims and witnesses to report so-called honour crimes and forced marriages.
The leaflet - 'Love, "Honour" and Obey' was the first CPS publication of its kind and defines offences of so-called honour crimes and forced marriages, and more importantly identifies the support that is available to victims of such crimes.
David Blundell, CCP for CPS West Midlands said; "Some communities talk of honour crimes and forced marriages. There is no such concept in English law. If a so-called honour crime has taken place or a forced marriage, criminal offences will have been committed and the police and the CPS will do everything in their power to ensure successful prosecutions. We will protect and support victims during the criminal process.
"It is essential that we challenge views that justify the unjustifiable. Crime is crime; victimising your own family is unacceptable in the 21st century.
"I would like to thank the voluntary sector in assisting us in the drafting of the leaflet. They will also help us in providing practical support to victims. Together we can make the unacceptable a thing of the past."
Imran Chaudhary from the Doli Project, who was part of the consultation group that looked at the design and content of the leaflet said: "Forced marriage and honour based violence often involve criminal offences that can be prosecuted under existing criminal law. The launch of this new CPS leaflet demonstrates their commitment to dealing with the challenges presented by these types of offences.
"It is important for victims to be aware that there is a wide range of support available to them, both from statutory agencies and community organisations, of which details can be found in this leaflet."
Case Study
Four close relatives of a man who murdered his wife, Sabia Rani, were convicted of failing to protect her and thereby allowing her death.
Sabia was just 19 years old when she died at the family home in Leeds in May 2006. Sabia had only been married for a matter of months before repeated, savage beatings from her husband caused her death.
Shazad Khan (25) of Oakwood, Leeds was found guilty of his wife's murder in January 2007. In February 2008 Khan's mother, Phullan Bibi (52), two of his sisters, Uzma Khan (23), and Nazia Naureen (28) and Nazia's husband Majid Hussain (28) were all found guilty of failing to do anything to help protect vulnerable Sabia, from her death at the hands of her husband.
At the time of Shazad Khan's conviction, West Yorkshire Police and the CPS had already taken the first steps towards charging these defendants, a course supported in court by the trial Judge, His Honour Norman Jones QC.
All four relatives of Shazad Khan and Sabia Rani were convicted of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult. Their convictions were secured on one of the first occasions when new legislation was used after the death of an adult. Phullan Bibi received a prison sentence of three years, Nazia and Uzma Naureen were both sentenced to two years imprisonment, while Majid Hussain received a one year sentence, suspended for two years, and 40 hours community sentence order.
Malcolm Taylor, CPS West Yorkshire Complex Casework Unit
Malcolm Taylor of CPS West Yorkshire's Complex Casework Unit said:
"Sabia Rani was the victim of horrific violence at the hands of her husband whilst her family, as the jury found, chose to do nothing to help her.
"This is the first case in West Yorkshire and one of the very first cases in the whole of England and Wales where the provisions of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 have been used after the death of a 'vulnerable adult'.
"The message must be that if families or other people with a duty to look after those who need protection deliberately choose not to do so, their neglect will not be ignored by the law enforcement agencies, and prosecution will follow."
Violence against Women
As part of the implementation of the Single Equalities Scheme, the CPS prioritised the development of a Violence Against Women (VAW) strategy and action plans. Public consultation was carried out between November 2007 and January 2008 and the final strategy was published in April 2008. The action plans expand the good practice in the prosecution of domestic violence across a wider range of issues such as rape, prostitution, trafficking, and child abuse.
The first Violence Against Women report on performance will be published in autumn 2008, alongside a first Hate Crimes report.
Community Justice
Community Justice is about engaging with the local community, making the court more responsive to local people and working in partnership with the range of criminal justice agencies, support services and community groups to solve the problems caused by offending in the local area. The courts take a problem-solving approach, aiming to break cycles of re-offending by bringing together a range of statutory and third sector agencies to tackle the underlying causes of crime, such as, addiction, housing, education or debt problems.
There are now 13 community justice projects across England and Wales. Following the first two projects, the Community Justice Centre in North Liverpool and the Salford Community Justice Initiative, community courts are now established at Birmingham, Bradford, Hull, Leicester, Merthyr Tydfil, Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Plymouth, and three locations in London - Haringey, Newham and Wandsworth.
Further rollout of community engagement principles to the magistrates' courts will be completed by the end of 2008. Engaging with the community so directly will give the courts a better understanding of the issues faced by local communities, and the impact of crimes on their lives.
Improving Public Awareness and Confidence in the CPS
The CPS has made significant progress over the last year, providing more information to the public through both local and national media and enhancing the Service's reputation for openness and transparency through the positive operation of the Protocol on the Disclosure of Prosecution Material.
The CPS has also held events such as media briefings with the DPP and other senior CPS personnel, including briefings for black and minority ethnic (BME) media. Briefings such as these promote two-way communication between the CPS and the media, raising general awareness of the Service's work, and enabling the media to discuss issues they have identified as being of particular interest or concern to their audiences.
During the year, the CPS launched a staff suggestion scheme to help staff contribute their ideas for improving the Service and also held a national staff awards event to identify and reward best practice across the organisation.
In 2008/09, the recruitment of 14 Group Communications Managers will strengthen relations with local media outlets and provide additional communication advice and support for frontline staff.
Case Study
Following the conviction of four would-be suicide bombers for conspiracy to murder, Sue Hemming, Head of CTD (Counter Terrorism Division) praised the joint working relationship of the CPS and the Metropolitan Police's anti-terror unit, SO15.
Sue Hemming, Head of Counter Terrorism Division
The defendants planned a coordinated attack designed to cause death and destruction on the London transport system – just two weeks after the 7 July 2005 bombings. They were (left to right) Hussain Osman, Ramzi Mohammed, Muktar Said Ibrahim and Yassin Omar.
Sue said that, from the beginning, the leading lawyer on the case and CTD Deputy Head, Deb Walsh, faced a massive challenge.
"Osman fled the country straight after the attempt and, following an intense manhunt, the very first European Arrest Warrant for the return of a fugitive, from Italy to England, was issued," she said.
"Osman was returned within a record 55 days to face trial with the others."
Other challenges Sue highlighted were the "lack of defence statements – so they had to address every single possibility that might arise; and complex scientific evidence as the bomb methods used were relatively unknown peroxide-based devices".
Failed bomb on train
Assisting Deb on the case was CTD Caseworker, Roshen Bhurtha, and counsel consisted of Nigel Sweeney QC, Max Hill and Alison Morgan.
"The excellent teamwork demonstrated in this case between the CPS, police and counsel was vital to our success."
"Fortunately the devices failed but the skill in putting together and prosecuting a case of this type without educating terrorists on how to do things better cannot be underestimated."
Further to the conviction of the four main suspects, Adel Yahya and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu pleaded guilty to collecting information useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and conspiracy to cause explosions respectively before scheduled retrials following earlier acquittals. In addition, a further five men were convicted of a number of offences relating to assisting the would-be bombers.
Case Study
The arrest of Steve Wright following the murders of five young women resulted in one of the biggest cases ever handled by the CPS in Suffolk.
Over a 10-day period in December 2006, the naked bodies of (left to right)Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were found in the Ipswich Area. From the outset, CPS prosecutors and police worked closely and quickly together.
Michael Crimp and Robert Sadd, CPS Crown Advocates
Steve Wright was charged with the murders of the vulnerable young women, aged between 19 and 29, on 21 December 2006. CPS reviewing lawyers on the case – Crown Advocates Michael Crimp and Robert Sadd – found it extremely challenging.
"Much of the evidence was not available at the point at which we had to make a charging decision, but came in over the ensuing months," said Michael.
Robert added: "What turned out to be the core of the case was what we based our charging decision on – the defendant's DNA which was found on three of the victim’s bodies in significant quantities. No other person's DNA was found on more than one body."
In sentencing Wright to a whole of life term in prison, at Ipswich Crown Court, for the murder of the particularly vulnerable women, Mr Justice Gross said:
"Drugs and prostitution meant they were at risk. But neither drugs nor prostitution killed them. You did.
"This was a targeted campaign of murder. It is right you should spend your whole life in prison."
Public Consultation
The CPS has continued to seek public opinion on new and revised policies. During 2007, the CPS undertook public consultations on policies including Crimes Against the Older Person, a Violence Against Women Strategy and action plan, and revisions to the Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Racist and Religious Crime. Feedback received has ensured that public concerns and social issues form part of the policy-making process.
The Equality and Diversity Unit worked closely with the Policy Directorate to produce the first Crimes Against the Older Person policy and guidance, thus fulfilling a key obligation of the CPS Single Equality Scheme. A variety of input into the development of the policy was ensured by setting up an external steering group with representatives from key older people organisations, holding two focus groups with older people themselves, and holding a three month consultation period, which attracted responses from a wide range of professionals and individuals. The policy was launched by the Director and Solicitor General in June 2008.
