CPS News Brief

Violence against women and girls - correct figure for offenders

A letter from the Women’s Resource Centre, published in the Guardian this morning, incorrectly said 15,000 offenders are being brought to justice in cases involving violence against women and girls. In fact, 15,000 more offenders are brought to justice in a year than there were four years ago.

In a speech about violence against women and girls on Monday, 23 July 2012, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, announced that in 2011-12 we saw the highest conviction rate for these crimes of 73 per cent. Out of 91,000 cases prosecuted – up from 75,000 in 2007-08 ­– there were 67,000 convictions.

Two PCs to face charge of racially aggravated public order offence

Sue Hemming, head of the division handling special crime, said:

“I have today authorised the IPCC to summons PC David Hair and PC Kevin Hughes of the Metropolitan Police Service with a racially aggravated public order offence in respect of comments made while on duty as police officers.

“PC Hair is summonsed in relation to a comment made about members of the public on 22 February 2012 and PC Hughes is summonsed in relation to a comment made to a colleague on 13 March 2012.

“Both are summonsed for a racially aggravated offence of using abusive or insulting words contrary to section 5 Public Order 1985 and section 31 (c) Crime Disorder 1998. Both men are also summonsed for an alternative charge of using abusive or insulting words contrary to section 5 Public Order 1985.

“This decision is made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors as I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to prosecute this case.

“Both men will appear on 5 September at Westminster Magistrates Court.”

Background Information:

At the relevant time both men were part of the North East Victim Offender Location Time team based in Newham, London

Killing of Anuj Bidve "completely senseless" says Chief Crown Prosecutor

Nazir Afzal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West Area said:

“Anuj Bidve’s murder in the early hours of Boxing Day last year was a terrible crime which shocked and appalled us all. It is all the more tragic because it was completely senseless.

 “Anuj had his whole life ahead of him. He was young and bright, a talented student who was enjoying his time at Lancaster University. His parents were understandably very proud of him. They sent him to the UK to continue his studies and fulfil his ambitions but tragically came here themselves to take his body back home. They have been here throughout the trial and today have seen the jury return their verdict that Kiaran Stapleton is guilty of murder.

“Kiaran Stapleton shot Anuj, an innocent and defenceless man, at close range without warning or provocation. Thankfully such crimes of truly random and brutal violence are extremely rare.

“It was a cowardly murder, and his reaction afterwards in trying to cover his tracks, hide from police and evade justice was also cowardly.

“Since the moment that he killed Anuj, and throughout this trial, he has shown no trace of remorse and no concern for the pain his family are going through. Two days after the murder he even went to a tattoo shop and got a teardrop tattoo. It was a sign we say that he was boasting about the murder, that he thought it gave him some sort of notoriety.

“Only when he realised that the evidence against him was overwhelming did he plead guilty to manslaughter, admitting that he pulled the trigger but claiming that at the time of the killing his responsibility for his actions was diminished.

“The prosecution case has always been that Kiaran Stapleton knew exactly what he was doing at the time of the shooting and in the days afterwards. All the evidence supported that, and for that reason we refused to accept his plea to manslaughter and pursued a trial for murder. We have proved our case to the jury, and I am pleased that together the CPS and Greater Manchester Police prosecution team have been able to deliver justice for Anuj’s family today.

“My thoughts and sympathies are very much with them as Kiaran Stapleton faces a life sentence for Anuj’s murder.”

 

 

Queen’s Counsel to face charge over £600,000 VAT fraud

Keri Ashworth-Beaumont, prosecutor for the CPS Central Fraud Division said:

“I have advised HM Revenue and Customs that Rohan Anthony Pershad QC should be prosecuted for a single office of cheating the public revenue.

“The allegation is that between 1 June 1999 and 24 September 2011, Rohan Anthony Pershad did cheat the public revenue of approximately £600,000. The evidence suggests that he charged and received VAT payments on services he provided whilst practising as a barrister but which he knowingly failed to declare or pay to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. This is an offence contrary to common law.

“This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case.

“He will appear before Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on 2 August 2012.

“Rohan Anthony Pershad has now been summonsed on a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice this trial."

Alison Levitt QC's announcement on charges arising from Operation Weeting

Statement from Alison Levitt QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP):

"This statement is made in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in relation to Operation Weeting.

During June and July 2012, the Crown Prosecution Service received files of evidence from the Metropolitan Police Service, relating to thirteen suspects. This has followed a period of consultation and cooperation between police and prosecutors which has taken place over many months. All the evidence has now carefully been considered.

Applying the two-stage test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors I have concluded that in relation to eight of these thirteen suspects there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction in relation to one or more offences.

I then considered the second stage of the test, applying the DPP’s interim guidelines on assessing the public interest in cases involving the media, and I have concluded that a prosecution is required in the public interest in relation to each of these eight suspects.

The eight who will be charged are: Rebekah Brooks, Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup. They will face a total of nineteen charges in all.

The full wording of all the charges will be made available, which will include the names of others whom the prosecution say are victims, but for now I shall summarise them as follows.

All, with the exception of Glenn Mulcaire, will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority, from 3rd October 2000 to 9th August 2006. The communications in question are the voicemail messages of well-known people and / or those associated with them. There is a schedule containing the names of over 600 people whom the prosecution will say are the victims of this offence.

In addition, each will face a number of further charges of conspiracy unlawfully to intercept communications, as follows:

Rebekah Brooks will face two additional charges:

• the first relates to the voicemails of the late Milly Dowler
• the second to the voicemails of Andrew Gilchrist

Andrew Coulson will face four additional charges, relating to the following victims:

• Milly Dowler
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke,
• and Calum Best

Stuart Kuttner will face two additional charges, relating to:

• Milly Dowler and
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP

Greg Miskiw will face nine further charges, relating to the following victims or groups of victims:

• Milly Dowler
• Sven-Goran Eriksson
• Abigail Titmuss and
• John Leslie Andrew Gilchrist
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• Delia Smith
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, and
• Wayne Rooney

Ian Edmondson will face a further eleven charges, relating to the following victims or groups of victims:

• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller
• Mark Oaten
• Wayne Rooney
• Calum Best
• the Rt Hon Dame Tessa Jowell MP and David Mills
• the Rt Hon Lord Prescott
• Professor John Tulloch
• Lord Frederick Windsor
• Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Neville Thurlbeck will face a further seven charges in relation to the following victims or groups of victims:

• Milly Dowler
• Sven-Goran Eriksson
• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
• Mark Oaten
• the Rt Hon Dame Tessa Jowell MP and David Mills

James Weatherup will face a further seven charges in relation to the following victims or groups of victims:

• the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke
• Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
• Wayne Rooney
• the Rt Hon Lord Prescott
• Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

For legal reasons Glenn Mulcaire does not face the first of these charges. However, he will face four charges, relating to:

• Milly Dowler
• Andrew Gilchrist
• Delia Smith and
• the Rt Hon Charles Clarke

In relation to three of the remaining suspects, I have concluded that there is insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction. It follows that no further action will be taken in relation to them. Because others are now about to be charged, it would not be appropriate for me to give reasons for these decisions at this stage.

There are two suspects in relation to whom the police have asked me to defer making a decision whilst further enquiries are made. For this reason I do not intend to give their names or say anything further about them at this stage.

The eleven suspects have this morning been informed of my decision. They are all due to answer their bail at police stations. When they do so, the eight whom I have already named will be charged. Following charge, these individuals will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a date to be determined.

The police intend to contact all the victims who will then be told that their names appear on the indictment. Once all have been informed the full list of those whom the prosecution says were victims will be made available.

May I remind all concerned that these eight individuals now will be charged with criminal offences and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."