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2 May 2006 : Column 1338W—continued
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what action can be taken against officials in the Crown Prosecution Service (a) who make (i) a negligent and (ii) an unintentional mistake during the course of their work and (b) who deliberately fail to implement the prosecutor's code; and if he will make a statement. [66853]
The Solicitor-General:
The Code for Crown Prosecutors gives guidance on the general principles to be applied when making decisions about prosecutions. In addition, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a code of conduct, job descriptions and person specifications so that managers and staff know what is expected of them. The CPS is also in the process of rolling-out a professional skills and valued behaviour framework, which will further underline and specify the performance standards required of staff. In the event of an apparent failure to deliver to the necessary standard, it is for line management to identify the causes and to take action, whether on grounds of capability or conduct, using the appropriate employment procedures.
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the occasions when action has been taken against officials employed by the Crown Prosecution Service for negligence in each month since 1997. [66854]
The Solicitor-General:
It is for line management to identify whether the acts and/or omissions of staff could constitute negligence and to take action, as appropriate, in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Service's capability and conduct procedures. Management actions would not ordinarily be captured centrally unless disciplinary action for serious or gross misconduct was involved. No such cases are recorded for the period in question.
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff were dismissed from the Crown Prosecution Service in each month since 1997, broken down by grade; and what the reason was in each case. [66855]
The Solicitor-General: Data setting out the reasons for leaving are not available for staff who left the CPS prior to 1 April 2001. This date coincides with the change of the human resources database. Details of dismissals can be provided with effect from April 2001 and these are shown by month and pay band below.
The reasons for dismissal are either on inefficiency or disciplinary grounds. The details of the inefficiency cases are as follows:
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The details of the cases involving dismissal on disciplinary grounds are as follows:
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General (1) if he will make a statement on progress in improving public (a) awareness of and (b) confidence in the Crown Prosecution Service; [66856]
(2) who in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for improving public (a) awareness of and (b) confidence in the CPS; to whom that person reports; and if he will make a statement. [66857]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is making good progress in improving public awareness and public confidence in its work. A communication strategy has been developed to improve public awareness of the CPS's role in prosecuting crime. The strategy includes proactively engaging with the media; working with other criminal justice system agencies on communication initiatives; improving stakeholder engagement; and promoting the CPS's vision of becoming a world-class prosecution authority. Greater awareness is important in raising public confidence in the CPS. The latest British Crime Survey report on policing and confidence, published on 30 March 2006, suggests that public satisfaction with the CPS's work has increased.
Chief Crown Prosecutors (CCPs), in charge of each of the CPS's 42 areas, are locally responsible for improving public awareness and confidence in the CPS. CCPs report to the Director of Public Prosecutions and to the Chief Executive. Progress is also assessed by the independent CPS Inspectorate.
At a national level the Director of Business Development has responsibility for improving public awareness of the CPS and the Director of Finance, has responsibility for improving public confidence in the Service. Both report to the Chief Executive.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Solicitor-General when the Prosecutor's Code was last updated; who was consulted; if he will place in the Library responses received; how
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(a) hon. Members, (b) Members of the House of Lords and (c) members of the public can obtain copies; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [66860]
The Solicitor-General: The Code for Crown Prosecutors is reviewed and reissued from time-to-time, the latest edition being published on 16 November 2004.
The Attorney-General announced the review of the Code on 18 March 2004, Official Report, column WS25, indicating that the review would be limited in scope to take account of recent developments and that there would be appropriate consultation. The completion of the review was announced by the Attorney-General on 16 November 2004, Official Report, column WS50, stating that copies of the revised Code had been printed and placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Consultation on the latest edition of the Code included prosecutors from other prosecuting agencies and departments; criminal justice system partners; interest groups; the senior judiciary; academics; and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) staff. It would not be appropriate to publish their responses since they were not informed that this would happen at the time.
The Code is a public document, which is available free of charge on the CPS's website www.cps.gov.uk. Copies are also available free of charge on request from the CPS publications branch.
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