REORGANISATION OF CPS TO MATCH POLICE FORCE
AREAS
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 The Government decided that the CPS
should be reorganised to be coterminous with the police force
boundaries to improve inter-agency co-ordination as part of the
broader move to co-terminosity in the criminal justice system.
This decision pre-dated the Glidewell review, which made a number
of recommendations for implementing the new structure.
2. CURRENT SITUATION
2.1 On 1 April 1999, the CPS moved from
its previous 13 Area, 93 Branch structure to its current 42 Area
structure[5].
Criminal Justice Units and Trial Units will replace the existing
Branch structure as Areas implement their plans. Co-terminosity
has meant clearer local co-ordination with other CJS agencies
through, for example, Chief Officer Groups, local TIGs and the
new Criminal Justice Strategy Groups.
2.2 All the Chief Crown Prosecutors (and
the three London Assistant Chief Crown Prosecutors) were appointed
following an open competition. Each Area is headed by a CCP who
is accountable to the DPP for legal decisions and casework and
to the Chief Executive, in the first instance, for the efficient,
economic and effective management of their Area. The Area Business
Managers are responsible to their CCP for the economic, efficient
and effective management of their Area.
5 CPS London covers both the Metropolitan Police District
and the City of London police force area. Back
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