Written evidence to be reported to the House

Part of Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:30 pm on 16 October 2007.

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Cindy Barnett: That is a very practical point. We have experience of designated caseworkers who are not able to continue with a case in court because a particular legal point has arisen or there has been a change in the circumstances which they are not able to deal with owing to a lack of qualification, or some other reason. In that circumstance, there is a delay. In some cases it matters less, if you can swap a prosecutor in one court with a DCW in the other; but if there is only one person in a court who is not available to switch over, then a list may simply be shut down, which is absolutely absurd.

Our main concern is that anyone who presents a case to us in court should be sufficiently qualified and experienced to do it well, and not to have to withdraw because of practical difficulties or lack of qualifications or experience. We are very concerned that the extension will cause more problems of that sort.