CPS Coventry and Solihull head departs to take up new post

23/08/2010

The Senior District Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Coventry and Solihull, Nigel Gumley, will be leaving his post on 31 August 2010 to take up his new position as the head of the CPS in Birmingham.

Mr Gumley, who has been in charge of the CPS in Coventry and Solihull since March 2008, said

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff for their hard work and the support they have given to me over the last two years which has enabled us to a build a successful reputation in Coventry and Solihull.

"During my time here, we have worked in conjunction with local criminal justice and community safety partners to engage with the public so that they can tell us their concerns on crime and disorder, which has in turn enabled us to respond accordingly. We will continue to keep these dialogues open in order to support the local community that we serve.

"I would like to wish everyone all the very best in the future."

Zafar Siddique, who will combine his role as the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Warwickshire with that of the operational management of CPS Coventry and Solihull, said

"I want to continue and build upon the excellent service provided by Nigel and his team over the last few years to the local community in Coventry and Solihull.

"Having oversight of both CPS Warwickshire, and now the CPS in Coventry and Solihull, will give us the flexibility and resilience to improve our service and also provide economies of scale to deliver value for money in this financially challenging environment. I look forward to working with the staff, our criminal justice partners and the local community to provide justice for all and make Coventry and Solihull a safer place to work, visit and live."

Ends

Biographical notes

Nigel Gumley was admitted as a Solicitor in 1979 and was a partner of a firm of solicitors in Cardiff prior to joining the Prosecuting Authority in 1984. He has formerly held Senior District Crown Prosecutor posts in Central London, Birmingham and Coventry/Solihull. He has also acted as the lead Area Business Manager for the West Midlands Group and as the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Warwickshire.

Zafar Siddique joined the CPS in 1997 as an Administration Officer. Prior to this, he worked at Glasgow University as a lecturer and research scientist specialising in medical genetics. In 2002, he qualified as a solicitor and began prosecuting in Bradford. He became West Yorkshire's High-Tech crime specialist and worked on a number of high profile cases including Operation Ore (internet child abuse cases). In 2004, Zafar was promoted to Assistant District Crown Prosecutor in West Yorkshire and in 2008 he became District Crown Prosecutor in London. He is also a Crown Advocate and has conducted trials in the Crown Court. Zafar is married with four children (three boys and a girl) and he is 42 years-old.

Notes to Editors

1. The CPS West Midlands Group consists of four prosecutions areas Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands. Website www.cps.gov.uk/westmidlands
2. CPS West Midlands prosecution area consisits of three prosecution Districts Black Country, Birmingham and Coventry / Solihull
3. The DPP has published his long term vision for the prosecution service and its role within the wider criminal justice system. It includes modernising the service and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of criminal justice - read The Public Prosecution Service: Setting the Standard at www.cps.gov.uk/pps
4. The CPS, together with ACPO and media representatives, has developed a Protocol for the release of prosecution material to the media. This sets out the type of prosecution material that will normally be released, or considered for release, together with the factors we will take into account when considering requests. The Protocol is published on our website at: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/agencies/mediaprotocol.html
5. For further information or photographs of Mr Gumley or Mr Siddique, please contact Vinny Bolina, CPS West Midlands Group Senior Communications Manager on 0121 262 1531 or 07753 895 240