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Solicitor-General

Answer

Mr. Pike: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Burnley constituency, the effects on Burnley of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [214701] The Solicitor-General: Since 1997 the Government has embarked on a programme of reform in the criminal justice system to deliver justice for all by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent. Statistics are not maintained at a constituency level but I can provide information on Lancashire as a whole. The introduction of the statutory charging scheme in June 2004 has already brought benefits in reducing the number of cases which fall out of the system after charge. The figures have fallen from 23.4 per cent. in 2002-03 to 17.2 per cent. in 2004-05 to date. Three new witness care units have been established in Lancashire, one of which is situated in Burnley. These units are already making a contribution towards the reduction in the percentage of ineffective trials, particularly in the Crown court. Lancashire has one of 14 specialist antisocial behaviour prosecutors in the country. The CPS work closely with other agencies to address antisocial behaviour and 37 orders on conviction were granted in Lancashire between November 2004 and February 2005. Burnley is one of two new action areas within Lancashire and the specialist prosecutor will be establishing close working relationships with the relevant crime and disorder reduction partnerships, and with Burnley council's community safety department to determine how the CPS can contribute more to reducing antisocial behaviour in the area.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1333W;432 c1329W; 214701

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Government departments Policy Burnley Solicitor General

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk