CPS North West response to Inspectorate report

CPS North West has good leadership, is managing its resources well and is building effective partnerships across the criminal justice system according to a report published today by Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI).

The report also highlights the North West Area’s emphasis on positive staff engagement and continuous improvement, and recognises its performance above the national average for convictions in both magistrates’ court and Crown Court cases.

The report commends CPS North West for the high standard of witness care in the most serious and sensitive cases involving vulnerable witnesses, although areas for improvement are identified in communications with victims and witnesses in volume cases in the Crown Court.

The Inspectorate also praises CPS North West’s work to engage with local communities through its local scrutiny and engagement panels. Members of local communities who sit on the panels spoke positively about CPS North West’s commitment to improving the service for victims and witnesses.

The report identifies that more needs to be done to improve the standards of casework, including in particular the need for improvements in the management of the disclosure process and continued work with the police to improve the quality of case files. CPS North West accepts the areas for improvement identified by the Inspectorate and has developed a detailed action plan to address each of those areas.

Martin Goldman, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “We welcome the Inspectorate’s report and recommendations. We are delighted at the positive findings about the high standard of care we provide to vulnerable victims and witnesses and the involvement of members of local communities in our work.

“We are also very pleased that the inspectors have recognised the foundations put in place by the new management team to deliver improvements in the service we provide and to work effectively with Criminal Justice partners. We recognise the importance of continuing to drive forward improvements and to address those areas where we can do better. We have already put together an action plan for the recommendations within the report.

“Our staff have a strong commitment to delivering successful outcomes in prosecutions and providing a high standard of service to victims and witnesses and we will be working with them and with our partners over the coming months to make the necessary improvements.”