Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Crown Prosecution Service and Police Services: Joint Working

Thursday 9 May 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Close and collaborative work across the criminal justice system is key to securing justice for victims, holding offenders to account and keeping the public safe.
  • The police and the CPS have invested in a national operating model for rape prosecutions to enhance joint working.
  • A buddy system at Charing Cross police station involves CPS lawyers working with police officers to improve case file quality.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mary Robinson Con
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The question arises from the necessity to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies for effective prosecution of crimes.

Question

What recent steps has she taken to increase joint working between the Crown Prosecution Service and police services?

Answer from Robert Courts

Close and collaborative work across the criminal justice system is key to securing justice for victims, holding offenders to account and keeping the public safe. The police and the CPS have invested heavily in new ways of working, including through the national operating model for rape prosecutions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or initiatives taken are not detailed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Mary Robinson Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

There can be significant delays between sending a case to the CPS and receiving a charging decision back, suggesting the need for closer cooperation.

Question

To solve delay issues in prosecution processes, it was suggested that having CPS staff based inside the station would speed up the process and improve communication. What consideration has my hon. and learned Friend given to a CPS presence in police stations?

Answer from Robert Courts

She is right to emphasise the importance of early co-operation between the police and the CPS. There is a buddy system at Charing Cross police station, with CPS lawyers working with police officers, which improves case file quality. We are actively exploring how to ensure closer early working with the CPS and the police.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Allan Dorans
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The Attorney General is refusing to give out legal advice based on a long-standing convention, while the situation in Gaza becomes increasingly dire.

Question

What steps is she taking to ensure that Britain is not complicit in the destruction of a nation and its people regarding arms sales to Israel?

Answer from Robert Courts

The Attorney General keeps all these matters under close review, and will ensure that any legal advice is properly obtained and acted upon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to prevent complicity in the destruction are not detailed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)