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Written question asked by Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative) on Tuesday, 7 February 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 February 2017. It was answered by Jeremy Wright (Conservative) on Monday, 13 February 2017 on behalf of the Attorney General.


Phil Shiner

Question

To ask the Attorney General, whether the CPS has made an assessment of the potential grounds for prosecuting Phil Shiner for the false allegations he made against members of the Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is not an investigative agency and has no power to investigate allegations of crime. The CPS will review any cases referred to it by the police or other investigators in accordance with the two stage test that is set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Where there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest, such cases will be prosecuted.

Any criminal allegations would need to be reported to the relevant police force to investigate in the first instance.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
63373
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Armed forces Defamation Prosecutions Shiner, Phil
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk