Monday, 1 December 2008

Police union slams CPS for comments on Worthing police chief

THE POLICE union has called for a top Crown prosecutor to resign in the wake of comments made on the decision not to prosecute Worthing police chief Sharon Rowe with theft.

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Police theft inquiry 'deplorable'

The Police Federation said the handling of the case by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was "deplorable".

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Friday, 28 November 2008

Thames Valley police leak case against Sally Murrer thrown out

"A journalist who was accused of obtaining police information illegally walked free from court today after a judge ruled that prosecution evidence against her was inadmissible."

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"This judgment sends a clear message to the authorities: they must recognise the importance of free and open journalism. Hard questions must now be asked of the police and CPS as to why these costly proceedings were allowed to get so far."

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Charges over elderly care dropped

Staff at a care home where residents were dubbed "thieves" and left to sit in their own filth escaped prosecution after legal chiefs confirmed they would not appeal against a judge's ruling to halt proceedings.

Earlier this week, Judge David Ticehurst said Crown Prosecution Service failings meant two employees at Newsham House, in Gloucester, and two directors of ADL Plc, owners of the care home, would not have a fair trial.

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Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Prosecutors failed to act on Baby P warning

On 1 August, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) phoned Baby P's mother to tell her she would not face charges. Two days later, the child died.

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Tuesday, 11 March 2008

More than 2,000 serious criminal cases thrown out after prosecutors were not ready

More than 2,000 cases that should have gone to trial in the Crown Court were thrown out last year because they were not ready, a watchdog says today.

The cases involve serious offences including burglary, theft, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of drugs and possession with intent to supply drugs.

The inspectors of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) say today in their report on the performance of the service that even though this throw-out rate is better than it was, it remains poor. In total 2,325 cases were lost because prosecutors were not ready to proceed.

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CPS given lowest possible rating

Leicestershire's Crown Prosecution Service has been given a "poor" rating, the lowest possible ranking, after its latest government inspection.

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