Public Prosecution Service follow-up inspection report published

A follow-up inspection of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland has shown that core prosecutorial decision making remains sound and the vast majority of decisions made by the PPS are correct.  The inspection carried out by CJI and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate examined progress made against the recommendations made by Inspectors from HMCPSI and CJI in their original inspection report published in 2007. View report. View Press Release.

The report recognises the progress made to date to complete the roll-out of the PPS across Northern Ireland and the effort made by the organisation to progress recommendations made by inspectors linked to the handling of its casework.  Inspectors however called for greater effort to be made to progress the recommendations made two years ago surrounding the communication of information about the reasons why a decision of no prosecution had been made to victims and their representatives.

 

Speaking following the publication of the report Dr Michael Maguire said: “The PPS sits at the heart of the criminal justice system.  A key role for the organisation must be to influence change and contribute to the modernisation of the justice system.

 

“In order to do this it must ensure it is able to operate effectively to act as a catalyst for improvement in the overall quality and timeliness of the service the justice system provides to the public.,” he said.