Spending Review
Chapter 7: Crown Prosecution Service
Aim
To contribute to the reduction both of crime and the fear of crime and to increase public confidence in the criminal justice system by fair and independent review of cases and firm, fair and effective prosecution at court.
Objectives and performance targets
Objective I: to deal with prosecution cases in a timely and efficient manner in partnership with other agencies.
1. Reduce by 2004 the time from arrest to sentence or other disposal by:
- reducing the time from charge to disposal for all defendants, with a target to be specified by March 2001;
- dealing with 80% of youth court cases within their time targets; and
- halving from 142 to 71 days by 2002 the time taken from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders and maintaining that level thereafter.
Target contributing to Criminal Justice System (CJS) PSA
Objective II: To ensure that the charges proceeded with are appropriate to the evidence, and to the seriousness of the offending by the consistent, fair and independent review of cases in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecution.
2. Improve the standard by which the CJS meets the rights of defendants, by achieving by 2004, 100% of targets in a basket of measures as defined in the CJS Business Plan. Target contributing to CJS PSA
3. Increase the number and proportion of recorded crimes for which an offender is brought to justice. Target contributing to CJS PSA
Objective III: to enable the courts to reach just decisions by fairly, thoroughly and firmly presenting prosecution cases, rigorously testing defence cases and scrupulously complying with the duties of disclosure.
4. Ensure by 2004 that the levels of fear of crime in the key categories of violent crime, burglary and car crime, reported in the British Crime Survey (BCS), are lower than the levels reported in the 2001 BCS. Target contributing to CJS PSA
Objective IV: to meet the needs of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system, in cooperation with other criminal justice agencies.
5. Improve by 5 percentage points the satisfaction level of victims and witnesses with their treatment in the CJS by 2002, and thereafter at least maintain that level of performance. Target contributing to CJS PSA
6. Improve the level of public confidence in the CJS by 2004, including improving that of ethnic minority communities. Target contributing to CJS PSA
Value for money
7. Improve performance through securing annual efficiency improvements of 3%.
Who is responsible for delivery?
The CPS's objectives and performance targets support those arising out of the Criminal Justice System cross-departmental review. The Attorney General is, with the Home Secretary and Lord Chancellor jointly responsible for the delivery of these targets. The Attorney General is responsible for the delivery of this PSA.
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