Written question asked by Vera Baird (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 4 February 2005. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Friday, 4 February 2005 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Solicitor-General

Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what monitoring the Crown Prosecution Service carries out of the standard of witness care by the Bar in (a) criminal and (b) rape trials.

Answer: Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General what monitoring the Crown Prosecution Service carries out of the standard of witness care by the Bar in (a) criminal and (b) rape trials. [207500] The Solicitor-General: On their cycle of inspections Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate investigate the quality of the prosecution service as a whole including that provided by the Bar on behalf of the local Area. They do so by monitoring files, advocates and, discussing performance issues with other criminal justice system stakeholders, including the judiciary. They formally report on their findings. In addition, a number of CPS Areas have in place local, arrangements in respect of monitoring of the Bar in relation to the prosecution of rape trials and criminal trials generally and this includes in some Areas monitoring the standard of witness care provided by counsel. Examples include monitoring of counsel by experienced caseworkers, CPS rape specialists attending for part of the trial to observe, and by addressing monitoring with the Heads of Chambers and at Joint Advocates Selection Committee as appropriate.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 207500; 430 c1188W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Criminal proceedings Crown Prosecution Service Protection Monitoring Rape Witnesses Trials
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk