Solicitor-General written question – answered at on 18 November 2004.
To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list bodies other than the police, but including Government Departments and agencies, which have authority to prosecute criminal offences; and which (a) are required to interact with the Crown Prosecution Service and (b) are subject to the operation of the Victims Charter.
In 1986 responsibility for prosecuting the majority of criminal cases passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. In addition, there remain a number of other Government Departments and agencies that have a responsibility for prosecuting criminal cases in England and Wales. These include:
Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office
Department of Trade and Industry
Department for Work and Pensions
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Intervention Board
Bank of England
Royal Air Force Prosecuting Authority
Royal Navy Prosecuting Authority
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority
Individual local authorities have responsibility for the prosecution of some criminal offences.
In Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal's Office undertakes prosecutions, and in Northern Ireland the principal prosecuting authority is the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
All of these Departments and agencies may, at different times and in different circumstances, be required to interact with the Crown Prosecution Service, both in relation to specific cases or types of cases and also prosecution policy.
The right of private individuals to prosecute criminal offences in England and Wales remains. Private prosecutors may also be required to interact with the Crown Prosecution Service, depending on the circumstances of individual cases.
The Crown Prosecution Service is the only prosecuting authority listed in the Victim's Charter, as being subject to the operation of the Charter.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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