Confidence In CPS Decreases

Legal firms who deal with private prosecutions have reported a rise in the number of enquiries recently. This comes after news was released that the High Court dismissed a private prosecution against Boris Johnson for certain statements made during the EU referendum campaign.

 

There are no official figures released on the number of private prosecutions that take place, but it has been suggested that these cases have soared recently due to a lack of confidence in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

 

Solicitors and law firms who deal with private prosecutions have expressed that their clients who are victims of various criminal activities have lost faith in the criminal justice system and have been forced to act on their own. 

 

Public authorities have even approached private law firms and solicitors to investigate prosecuting cases which the Crown Prosecution Service has failed to address or show any 'interest' in. 

 

Head of Carmelite Chambers, Mr Bott said "The CPS is always looking for the option that costs the least… one of the things that we see is that the courts often have little confidence in the CPS". 

 

Private prosecutions are especially prevalent in fraud cases as a director at Morgan La Roche solicitors states "In respect to frauds especially, there is a real lack of confidence in the police and CPS". 

 

A CPS spokesman has rebuffed these statements and said "Our decisions to prosecute are based on whether our legal test is met – not any financial consideration".  

 

"Last year CPS's Serious Fraud Division prosecuted 2,779 defendants and secured convictions in 78% of these cases."  However, it seems that many victims and legal authorities remain unconvinced of their approach.

 

Mandy Peters Solicitors 

Lewisham