CPS West Mercia News
Help for Vulnerable Witnesses
The intermediary scheme is a new initiative designed to help vulnerable victims and witnesses give their best evidence during a criminal case. Intermediaries are people trained in a range of skills who can facilitate communication and understanding between the victim or witness and the Police, CPS prosecutor and the Court. If the Police and CPS prosecutor decide that using an intermediary would help the victim or witness to give evidence, the CPS prosecutor can ask the court if one may be used under the 'Special Measures' provisions. For further information about special measures visit our victims and witnesses page.
New Scrutiny Panel set up
We have now set up an additional scrutiny panel which looks at crimes of violence against women. Violence against women includes crimes of domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences. The first panel meeting took place on 11th March 2009 and will continue to meet quarterly.
If you think you would be interested in taking part see our Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel leaflet for more information.
Latest News
Date
Outline
24/09/2009
DPP launches consultation on Assisted Suicide
Now that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC has published his interim policy on when to prosecute the offence of assisting suicide, I would urge you all to read it, debate it with friends and family, and take part in this consultation.
14/05/2009
West Mercia CPS Takes Action to Protect Endangered Tortoises
Following a successful prosecution, CPS West Mercia today obtained a court order preventing Telford man David Neville Johnson from possessing any critically endangered species. This is the first time a prosecution and prevention order has been made in r
02/04/2009
CPS updates its rape and domestic violence policies
Launch of Revised Policies for Rape and Domestic VIolence
01/04/2009
Stourport Body In The River - Two Jailed for Murder
Two sentenced for murder of Reginald Southall
07/01/2009
Wildlife offence custodial sentence for Shropshire gamekeeper
Todays sentencing of a second Shropshire gamekeeper for wildlife offences sees the successful conclusion of one of the most significant cases of its kind that we have prosecuted said West Mercia CPS Acting District Crown Prosecutor, Ken Postchild.
19/12/2008
Case of Martin Eager
West Mercia Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have given notice of their intention to offer no evidence at the hearing of the case of Martin Eager, which is due to be heard at Worcester Crown Court on 2nd March 2009.
18/11/2008
Domestic Abuse - Four Year Custodial Sentence for Redditch Man
Redditch man Neil Davies was today sentenced to four years imprisonment for offences against his former partner, Sara Hay.
14/11/2008
CPS Responds to Review of Decision Making in Road Death Cases
A review of the way the Crown Prosecution Service deals with road traffic cases involving fatalities shows that the organisation has made good progress, said Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC.
24/10/2008
Michael Allen - custody for sexual offences against children
Today at Worcester Crown Court, Redditch man Michael Devlin Allen was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for a string of sexual offences against children.
14/10/2008
No Criminal Charges in the James Hughes Case
After an extensive investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service have decided that no criminal charges are to be brought in respect of the death of James Hughes whose body was found in a suitcase in the garden of his home in Redditch on 23rd April 2008.
10/09/2008
Intimidated victim receives justice
Yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court, the victim of an attack gained justice following her decision to continue with her complaint of assault despite being subjected to further threats from her attacker.
09/09/2008
Justice For Terrified Park Home Residents in Bromsgrove
At Worcester Crown Court, seven people were today convicted for their part in an arson and blackmail conspiracy which caused distress and financial loss for the previous owner and residents of the Glen mobile home park in Bromsgrove.
08/08/2008
Videoing assault is aiding and abetting a crime
Today at Telford Youth Court, three youths each received a 12 month detention sentence for their part in a vicious assault.
12/06/2008
Death by dangerous driving conviction in Herefordshire
Following a prosecution by CPS West Mercia, Andrew Michael Watkins was yesterday convicted of an offence of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to five years imprisonment.
04/06/2008
A safer future for the elderly of Shropshire
CPS West Mercia have successfully prosecuted two cousins, Arthur and Paul Watton, for crimes they committed against elderly people throughout Shropshire.
14/04/2008
CPS Racist and Religious Crime Data Published
The Crown Prosecution Service’s Racist and Religious Incident Monitoring report for 2006-2007 shows an increase in prosecutions on the previous year for racist offences and a fall in prosecutions for religiously aggravated offences.
14/04/2008
CPS Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel Hold First Meeting
CPS West Mercia recently held a first meeting of their hate crime scrutiny panel which has been established to involve members of the community in looking at how CPS prosecute hate crime.
24/01/2008
Justice for the victim of an 'appalling crime'
Local Crown Advocate Max Bennett, acting as Junior counsel, yesterday helped secure a guilty verdict in the trial of local Telford man Philip Alexander Jervois.
25/07/2010
Consultation on Code for Crown Prosecutors
The Crown Prosecution Service has launched a twelve week public consultation on the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the document which sets out the principles which prosecutors must follow when they decide whether or not to prosecute an individual.
25/07/2010
Violence against women panel
CPS and the community tackling violence against women
25/07/2010
Herefordshire Legal Executive Receives Prison Sentence
Joseph Michael MacMahon was today sentenced at Hereford Crown Court to 18 months in prison for 11 offences of theft and one offence of fraud.
