PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Crown Prosecution Service (10 July 2014)

To ask the Attorney General, what steps he plans to take in response to the finding of HM Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Inspector in his Annual Report 2013-14, page 12, that there was a considerable decline in performance of the CPS in that year in relation to how it handled its disclosure obligations.

Asked by:
Emily Thornberry (Labour)

The CPS is committed to the proper application of the disclosure provisions in the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and is already engaged in a range of activities that will improve performance in this area:

· A disclosure assurance regime is in place for Crown Court disclosure;

· The CPS contributed to the Kinch / Riddle review into disclosure in the magistrates’ courts and is implementing the recommendations as part of the cross-CJS efforts to transform summary justice. This will mean more targeted and effective disclosure at first hearing in magistrates’ courts; and

· CPS has addressed the recommendations of the Gross reviews and the HMCPSI review of disclosure in R v Mouncher to further improve performance.

The CPS continues to look at how compliance with the disclosure regime can be improved and will actively consider further initiatives as necessary.

Answered by:
Sir Robert Buckland (Conservative)
1 September 2014