New lead on South Yorkshire's most complex crimes appointed

04/05/2009

A team of lawyers and caseworkers responsible for prosecuting the most high profile crimes in South Yorkshire welcomes a new lead.

Senior lawyer Adrian Lower takes on his new role as Head of the CPS Complex Casework Unit after just nine months at CPS South Yorkshire where he managed the team responsible for prosecutions at the Crown Court in both Doncaster and Sheffield.

Adrian will be responsible for eight people who work full time on tackling the most complex and high profile cases across South Yorkshire and Humberside. The team builds the cases against those suspected of murder, rape, large scale fraud and a range of other offences.

Adrian expressed his delight to be appointed, he said: I'm delighted to be appointed to such an important and challenging post within the CPS. The CPS is an ever developing organisation which is constantly striving forward to achieve the highest possible standards. In the last year, since the team was set up, the Complex Casework Unit has dealt successfully with some of the most sensitive and complex cases.

The team is working on the most high profile cases in the area, cases that cause real concern to local people. It's essential that we get this right and continue to improve on their success.

CPS lawyers advise the police on whether someone can be charged for an offence and what those charges should be. They then go on to build the case against the person accused using the evidence supplied by the Police. This evidence is presented by the CPS, or a barrister working on their behalf, in court to be considered by the Magistrate or Judge and jury.

The lawyers in my team are advising the police on charges of the most serious kind. Whilst these crimes must be taken seriously and dealt with by specialist staff we are fortunate that they occur in our area far less frequently than areas of similar size.

South Yorkshire is an excellent area with a strong and effective Criminal Justice System and over the coming years I, along with my team, will work hard to ensure this reputation is maintained and improved.