Police Superintendents and the Prosecution of Offences (From Police: Powers, Procedures and Proprieties, P 224-229, 1986, John Benyon and Colin Bourn, eds. -- See NCJ-158031)

• NCJ Number: 158050
• Author(s): R West
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Pergamon Press Limited
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales represents the senior management of the police service, and this association has been affected by the Prosecution of Offences Act of 1985 and the establishment of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Abstract

The association believes that prosecution must be independent of the police and that a clear division must exist between police investigative functions and prosecution policies. The association also feels that the national structure of the Crown Prosecution Service promotes greater consistency in prosecution policies, as well as public confidence in the fairness of prosecution arrangements, and that the national prosecution system is cost-effective. The association notes, however, that the Crown Prosecution Service is not without problems. Some of these problems concern the authority of the Director of Public Prosecutions over all criminal proceedings instituted on behalf of the police, how the police service can appeal a prosecutorial decision not to proceed with a case, and standards of proof in conviction and acquittal. Although police superintendents have been strongly opposed to losing the prosecuting function and prefer a locally based prosecution system, they have accepted the national approach embodied in the Crown Prosecution Service. 6 notes