The CPS Board

CPS Board members About the Board Hospitality, expenses and declaration of interests Chief Crown Prosecutors Group HQ Directors Group Audit Committee

CPS Board Members

Keir Starmer - Director of Public Prosecutions

Keir Starmer

During his 20-year career, Keir has earned a reputation as one of the country's most gifted lawyers, and an expert in the field of human rights. Appointed Queen's Counsel in 2002, he was named Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in 2001 and QC of the Year in Human Rights and Public Law in 2007. He is the author of several leading legal textbooks and is a Visiting Fellow at Essex University. From 2003-2008, he was the Human Rights Advisor to the Policing Board in Northern Ireland, publishing several reports. He was Joint Head of Doughty Street Chambers before taking up the role of Director of Public Prosecutions in November 2008.

As DPP, Keir is responsible for prosecutions, legal issues and criminal justice policy.

Peter Lewis - Chief Executive

Peter Lewis

Having qualified as a solicitor in 1981, Peter has spent his entire career prosecuting on behalf of the public. Joining the CPS on its inception in 1986 from West Midlands Prosecuting Solicitors, he has held various positions, including Chief Crown Prosecutor in Nottinghamshire and Director of Business Development. Appointed to his position as Chief Executive in January 2007, Peter is the first to have achieved this from within the Service.

As Chief Executive, Peter is responsible for running the business on a day-to-day basis.

Mike Kennedy - Chief Operating Officer

Mike Kennedy

Mike was elected president of the newly formed Eurojust in 2002. Following his successful tenure as president, Mike returned from the Hague in November 2007 having been chosen to be the CPS's first Chief Operating Officer. Mike previously had a long career with the Service - in addition to a number of casework roles, he was Chief Crown Prosecutor in Sussex before leaving for Eurojust.

Amongst other areas of work, Mike is responsible for Area and Casework performance.

Paul Staff - Finance Director

Paul Staff

Paul spent his early career in a wide range of roles in both manufacturing and commerce. He subsequently joined the British Library in the late 1970s and spent time in various roles in service delivery and Corporate Services before specialising in costing and the implementation and development of financial systems.

Paul is a qualified accountant and for almost 20 years has headed up the finance and accounts function for the CPS. He has been responsible for the successful introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting, implementing up to the minute financial and procurement systems, as well as playing a lead role in managing relationships with the National Audit Office and Treasury.

Doreen Langston - Non-executive Director

Doreen Langston

Doreen, a trained chartered accountant, has operated in senior commercial finance roles for the past 20 years. Between 1987 and 1997 she was Chief Accountant of HSBC Investment Bank plc, where she was responsible for the global finance function in London. Until May 2009 Doreen was Finance Director and Head of Operations at Daiwa. Asked to join the University of Surrey's Council in January 2007, she became Chair of its Audit Committee in January 2008.

Doreen joined the CPS Board as a non-executive director in June 2009 and is Chair of our Audit Committee. She is the non-executive lead for executive board member appraisals.

Derek Manuel - Non-executive Director

Derek Manuel

Derek Manuel is an experienced Human Resources professional, and joined the CPS Board in July 2011. He has worked in banking, information technology, and his last full-time role was as Global Human and Child Safeguarding Director at Save the Children.

Derek sits on the CPS' People Strategy Board, and is the Service's Whistleblowing Champion. Outside of the CPS, he sits on the board of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and is a board committee member for the global disability charity ADD International.

Alan Jenkins - Non-executive Director

Alan Jenkins

Alan joined the CPS Board as a non-executive Board member in summer 2011. He has had a long and distinguished legal career, retiring from Everhseds LLP in 2011, and serving as its chairman between 2004 and 2010. As a lawyer, Alan has practised in the fields of commercial litigation, international arbitration and professional negligence, working on many high profile cases, including the Lockerbie bombing.

In addition to the CPS Board, Alan sits on the Audit Committee and Litigation Strategy Group. He also sits on a number of other boards, including UK Trade & Investment and the Financial Ombudsman.

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About the Board

Who are we?

The CPS Board is chaired by the Director of Public Prosecutions and its members are the Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, Finance Director, Director of RCD, and four non-executive directors.

Why does the CPS Board have non-executive directors?

The Board's non-executive directors are there to provide an external challenge and perspective on the CPS's work and specific expertise to the discussions.

What are we responsible for?

The CPS Board is collectively responsible for the delivery of the CPS's public service outcomes, targets and our contribution to the Criminal Justice System.

How do we do this?

We provide strategic direction to the CPS's operational and corporate management, within the parameters of agreed legislation, and policies set in consultation with the Law Officers and, on cross CJS issues, the Secretaries of State for Justice and the Home Department. The main focus of our work is:

Ensuring the CPS continues to become world class and provides a fair and effective prosecution service;
demonstrating visible and effective leadership across the organisation to inspire confidence in staff, the CJS and other stakeholders and the public;
determining the vision, role, direction and priorities of the CPS;
ensuring effective allocation and management of the CPS's staff and financial resources;
monitoring and improving the CPS's performance; and
protecting and enhancing the CPS's reputation as an organisation that is becoming a world class prosecution service.

How are decisions taken?

We take decisions collectively, taking full account of the views of all members, including non-executive directors.

How are we held to account?

Individually, the CPS members of the Board have performance agreements that include objectives about being effective members of the Board. We are developing the mechanisms for holding the Board, collectively, to account.

How do we work?

We meet approximately six times a year and our agendas typically contain 4-6 items. The Board's work is planned by means of a rolling annual agenda. A record of the discussions is circulated within a fortnight of the meeting.

Who supports us in carrying out our role?

The Board has three supporting committees:

Directors Group;
Group Chairs Group;
Audit Committee

All of these groups have a key role in providing advice and guidance to the Board on CPS strategy, policy and operations. All of the committees are chaired by a Board member.

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Hospitality, expenses, DPP external meetings and declaration of interests

The CPS hospitality, business expenses, details of the DPP's meetings with outside organisations and declaration of interests for the CPS board members can be found below.

Hospitality Register 2009/10 to 2011/12

CPS Hospitality Register for the period 2009-2012

Business expenses

Publication of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations

The CPS, like all Goverment departments and agencies, must publish this information, which is submitted to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis. The Director of Public Prosecutions is regarded as a Permanent Secretary for the purposes of this reporting. Each report refers to the previous quarter.

This information does not normally include meetings with Government bodies such as other Government Departments and Agencies, non-departmental public bodies, Government reviewers, and representatives of Parliament, devolved or foreign governments.

Available online in this section in PDF and CSV format.

2011-2012

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 2 2011-2012 pdf

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 2 2011-2012 csv

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 1 2011-2012 pdf

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 1 2011-2012 csv

2010-2011

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 4 2010-2011 pdf

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 4 2010-2011 csv

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 3 2010-2011 pdf

CPS report of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations Quarter 3 2010-2011 csv

Declaration of interests 2011/12

Doreen Langston – Non-executive director

Sole Director and shareholder of Arcangel Analytical (UK) Ltd
Member of Council University of Surrey and on their behalf a Director of Guildford School of Acting
Governing board member of Amicus Horizon Housing Group
Non-executive board member of Management Board of Department for International Development

Derek Manuel – Non-executive director

Non-executive Director of the Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Advisor/co-opted board committee member for the ADD International (Global disability charity)

Alan Jenkins – Non-executive director

Non-executive board member of UK Trade and Investment
Non-executive Director of Financial Ombudsman Service
Non-executive Director of Northcourt Ltd
Non-executive Director of Gross Hill Properties Ltd
Non-executive Director of Sydney and London Properties Ltd
Independent non-executive of PKF(UK)LLP
Director and chairman of Mencap Trust Company Ltd
Trustee of International Institute for Environment and Development
Trustee and chairman of Lattitude Global Volunteering Ltd

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Chief Crown Prosecutors Group Terms of Reference

Who are we?

The Chief Crown Prosecutors Group is one of three Committees of the CPS Board. It is chaired by the Chief Operating Officer and its members are Chief Crown Prosecutors, three of the Casework Division Heads (rota basis), CCP CPS Direct, and Legal Directors for London. The DPP and Chief Executive are permanent guests.

What are we responsible for?

The CCPG is responsible to the Directors Group for operational delivery; delivery of core quality standards and efficiency in front line operations; engagement and influence of key stakeholders; and feedback to the Directors Group, through the COO, on strategic operational proposals.

How do we do this?

We:

Ensure the consistent delivery of the core quality standards across the Service within the agreed performance framework;
Engage with key stakeholders and share the intelligence
Identify innovative approaches and share best practice to enable consistent delivery of core quality standards;
Hold HQ to account for service provision to support operational delivery;
Provide advice to the Directors Group, through the COO, on operational impact of strategic change proposals, considering key performance management and risk issues;
Consider key performance management and risk issues and advise the Board on operational impacts and solutions;
Demonstrate visible and effective leadership across the organisation to inspire confidence in staff;
All items discussed will include an operational impact overview.

How are decisions taken?

We take decisions collectively, either in or ex-committee.

We work coherently with the other Board committees, to further the collective aims of the CPS as set out by the Board.

We make decisions and will remit work to other groups to develop solutions.

Where appropriate we will delegate authority for decisions to sub committees, whilst retaining our corporate accountability.

Unless delegated authority has been given, decisions on issues covered by the terms of reference will be taken by the Group.

How do we work

We meet approximately once a month and our agendas typically contain six to eight items.

Each item will have a supporting paper that is no more that two sides in length and covers the following:

Issue
Key Points
Cost Considerations
Options/Recommendations
Decisions Sought

The Committee's work is planned by means of a rolling annual agenda and agreed in advance. A record of the discussions is circulated internally within a fortnight of the meeting. The Chief Operating Officer is a member of the Directors Group and Chief Crown Prosecutors Group. He will ensure that the views and interests of the Chief Crown Prosecutors Group are represented at all levels of the corporate governance.

The Chief Operating Officer will ensure that the views of the Directors Group and Chief Crown Prosecutors Group are shared in order to support the common aims of the CPS Board Committees.

The Secretariat will co-ordinate agendas, quality assure and challenge content of papers to ensure corporate strategic fit, and produce the note and minutes of meetings.

How are we held to account?

We are held to account through:

Individual performance development reviews;
Collective accountability to the Directors Group;
Regular clear and transparent public corporate reporting.

CCPG Members

Mike Kennedy (Chair), Keir Starmer QC, Peter Lewis, Alison Saunders, Nazir Afzal, Adrian Foster, Paul Whittaker, Judith Walker, Barry Hughes, Sue Hemming, Roger Coe-Salazar, Wendy Williams, Jim Brisbane, Sue Patten, Ken Caley, Harry Ireland, Nick Hawkins, Martin Goldman, Peter Swain, Baljit Ubhey, Alun Milford and Simon Clements.

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HQ Directors Group Terms of Reference

Who are we?

The HQ Directors Group is one of three Committees of the CPS Board. It is chaired by the Chief Executive and its members are the DPP, the Chief Operating Officer, HQ Directors, Head of Communications, Head of Strategy and Policy, and Principal Legal Advisor, with guests invited as required. The Chief Crown Prosecutors Group reports directly to the HQ Directors Group.

What are we responsible for?

The HQ Directors Group is responsible to the CPS Board for refining and delivering the CPS strategy across the Criminal Justice System, collective delivery of the strategic objectives; CPS core quality standards and efficiency supporting the operational delivery of CPS business.

How do we do this?

We:

refine CPS strategy, policy and planning and ensure that opportunities for wider partnership working are identified and exploited;
take the strategic direction of the CPS Board and deliver supporting plans and guidance to the Business;
Seek advice from CCPG on the operational impact of strategic change proposals,
ensuring that all plans or proposals are fully costed so that VFM and operational impact are central to decision making.
define and direct the CPS contribution to system reform and prosecution reform across CJS and the LODS to improve delivery, service to the public and VFM;
own the corporate change agenda through the Change Portfolio, ensuring plans and resources are prioritised and streamlined to maximise efficiency and deliver public prosecution service reform;
ensure priorities for stakeholder management are aligned with priorities in our change agenda to drive delivery; and
demonstrate visible and effective leadership across the Service to inspire confidence;
all items discussed will include an operational impact overview.

How are decisions taken?

We take decisions collectively, either in or ex-committee.

We work coherently with the other Board committees, to further the collective aims of the CPS as set out by the Board.

We make decisions and will remit work to other groups to develop solutions.

Where appropriate we will delegate authority for decisions to sub committees, whilst retaining our corporate accountability.

Unless delegated authority has been given, decisions on issues covered by the terms of reference will be taken by the Group.

How do we work?

We meet approximately once a month and our agendas typically contain six to eight items.

Each item will have a supporting paper that is no more that two sides in length and covers the following:

Issue
Key Points
Cost Considerations
Options/Recommendations
Decisions Sought

The Committee's work is planned by means of a rolling annual agenda. A record of the discussions is circulated internally within a fortnight of the meeting. The Chief Executive is a member of the HQ Directors Group and Chief Crown Prosecutors Group, and will represent the views and interests of the HQ Directors Group at all levels of the corporate governance.

The Chief Executive will ensure that the views of the HQ Directors Group and Chief Crown Prosecutors Group are shared in order to support the common aims of the CPS Board committees.

The Secretariat will co-ordinate agendas, quality assure and challenge content of papers to ensure corporate strategic fit, and produce the note and minutes of meetings.

How are we held to account?

We are held to account through:

Individual performance development reviews;
Collective accountability to the Board;
Regular clear and transparent public corporate reporting;
Feedback from Chief Crown Prosecutors by the relevant Director attending CCPG.

HQ Directors Group Members

Peter Lewis (Chair), Keir Starmer QC, Mike Kennedy, Adrian Foster, Paul Staff, Nick Hunt, David Jones, Dale Simon. Mark Summerfield and Joanna Millington.

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Audit Committee

Constitution

The CPS Audit Committee has been established by the Accounting Officer and Additional Accounting Officer, and reports to the Accounting Officers through the Board.

Authority

The Committee is authorised by the CPS Board to:

investigate any activity within its terms of reference;
Seek any information that it requires from any employee of the Service and all employees are directed to co-operate with any request made by the Committee;
obtain outside legal or independent professional advice. Such advisors may attend meetings as necessary.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Committee can be divided into:

Internal Control and Corporate Governance

Reviewing the systems and process of internal control and governance. This includes reviewing management's and the internal auditors' reports on the effectiveness of systems for internal control, governance and risk management.
Evaluating the control environment.
Advising the Accounting Officers and the CPS Board on risk, business priorities and risk management needs and reporting to them specific concerns and issues, e.g. where business risks are being carried inappropriately.
Reviewing the procedures for handling allegations from whistleblowers.
Reviewing and challenging where necessary, the actions and judgements of management, in relation to the interim and annual financial statements paying particular attention to:
- critical accounting policies and practices and changes to them;
- decisions requiring a major element of judgement;
- the extent to which the financial statements are affected by any unusual transactions in the year;
- significant adjustments resulting from the audit;
- external audit's management letter;
- the signing off of the Statement of Internal Control; and,
- the follow-up to PAC reports.

Internal Audit

Reviewing the internal audit programme and ensuring that the internal audit function is adequately resourced and there are adequate arrangements for internal audit within the Service which reflect the requirements of GIAM.
Endorsing the role, responsibilities and authority of the Head of Internal Audit and approving the Internal Audit Charter.
Receiving and reviewing internal audit progress reports.
Reviewing action taken by management on audit recommendations.
Reviewing and endorsing the Head of Internal Audit's annual assurance report.

External Audit

Reviewing the External Audit strategy and plan.
Reviewing the External Audit management letters and management's response.
Reviewing the performance of the External Audit.
Ensuring effective co-ordination and liaison between internal and external audit including the National Audit Office.

Standing Agenda Items

For each meeting these will include:

A report summarising any significant changes to the organisation's risk register.
A progress report from the external auditors summarising work done and emerging findings.
A progress report from the Head of Internal Audit summarising:
- work performed compared with work planned;
- key issues emerging from internal audit work;
- management response to audit recommendations;
- changes to the annual audit plan; and,
- any resourcing issues affecting the delivery of internal audit objectives.

Access

The Head of Internal Audit and the representative of External Audit will have free and confidential access to the Chair of the Committee.

Frequency of meetings

The Committee will meet at least 4 times a year to:

agree the annual audit plan (February);
consider and endorse the Head of Internal Audit's draft Annual Report to the Accounting Officers and the CPS Board, agree and endorse the Final Statement of Internal Control to the CPS Board (April);
review and consider NAO observations on the annual accounts and sign off the final Head of Internal Audit's Annual Report (July);
review progress of plans, major developments and departmental control initiatives mid-year (October). Plan internal audit/external co-operation for next year ending 31 March.
External auditors or internal auditors may request a meeting if they consider that one is necessary. The Chair of the Committee may convene additional meetings, as they deem necessary.

Reporting procedures

The secretary to the Committee (who will be provided by the internal audit unit) will circulate the minutes of meetings of the Committee to all members of the CPS Board. The chairman of the Committee shall attend the Board meetings to provide reports on the work of the Committee. The Committee members shall conduct an annual review of their work and these Terms of Reference and make recommendations to the Board.

Audit Committee Members

Doreen Langston (NED) (Chair)

Link to Doreen Langston's Board profile

Richard Szadziewski (non-executive member)

Richard is a qualified accountant, and member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). He has operated at finance director level in six local authorities over a 15-year period, and had responsibility for setting up a number of audit committees. Richard has also worked in project roles for the Departments of Health and Transport.

He was appointed a non-executive member of the Audit Committee in August 2009.

Caroline Johnstone (non-executive member)

Caroline is a chartered accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). Until recently she was a senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and a member of its Assurance Executive Board.

Caroline has a strong performance management background, and significant experience of major organisational change. With nearly 30 years in industry, she has worked at senior board level, implementing mergers and acquisitions, people change, corporate recovery and insolvency, accounting and audit.

She was appointed a non-executive member of the Audit Committee in August 2009.

Sarah Brown (non-executive member)

Sarah was a non-executive director and chair of the Audit Committee of the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office. She is a former senior civil servant in the old Department of Trade and Industry.

She now has a portfolio of jobs which currently includes membership of the Bar Standards Board, the General Pharmaceutical Council, and the Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board. She is chair of the Audit Committee of the Parkinson's Disease Society and has chaired or been a member of several other audit committees.

She joined the CPS Audit Committee in January 2010 following the merger with Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office.

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PDF Information

Useful links

The CPS Board

CPS Board Members

Keir Starmer - Director of Public Prosecutions

Peter Lewis - Chief Executive

Mike Kennedy - Chief Operating Officer

Paul Staff - Finance Director

Doreen Langston - Non-executive Director

Derek Manuel - Non-executive Director

Alan Jenkins - Non-executive Director

About the Board

Who are we?

Why does the CPS Board have non-executive directors?

What are we responsible for?

How do we do this?

How are decisions taken?

How are we held to account?

How do we work?

Who supports us in carrying out our role?

Hospitality, expenses, DPP external meetings and declaration of interests

Hospitality Register 2009/10 to 2011/12

Business expenses

October to December 2011

July to September 2011

April to June 2011

January to March 2011

October to December 2010

July to September 2010

April to June 2010

January to March 2010

October to December 2009

July to September 2009

April to June 2009

Publication of Permanent Secretaries' meetings with outside organisations

Declaration of interests 2011/12

Doreen Langston – Non-executive director

Derek Manuel – Non-executive director

Alan Jenkins – Non-executive director

Chief Crown Prosecutors Group Terms of Reference

Who are we?

What are we responsible for?

How do we do this?

How are decisions taken?

How do we work

How are we held to account?

CCPG Members

HQ Directors Group Terms of Reference

Who are we?

What are we responsible for?

How do we do this?

How are decisions taken?

How do we work?

How are we held to account?

HQ Directors Group Members

Audit Committee

Constitution

Authority

Responsibilities

Internal Control and Corporate Governance

Internal Audit

External Audit

Standing Agenda Items

Access

Frequency of meetings

Reporting procedures

Audit Committee Members

Doreen Langston (NED) (Chair)

Richard Szadziewski (non-executive member)

Caroline Johnstone (non-executive member)

Sarah Brown (non-executive member)

The Crown Prosecution Service

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