CPS News Brief

Clive Sharpe charged with the murder of Catherine Gowing

Karen Dixon, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wales, said:

"The Crown Prosecution Service has been in close contact with North Wales Police as their investigation into Catherine Gowing’s disappearance has developed.

"We can now confirm that, having carefully carried out a detailed review of the evidence gathered so far by North Wales Police, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Clive Sharpe with the murder of Catherine Gowing and that it is in the public interest to do so.

"Accordingly, we have authorised North Wales Police to charge the defendant and he will appear before Mold Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning.

"This is an extremely serious criminal charge and the police investigation continues. It is therefore vital that nothing is published that may hamper either the ongoing police enquiries or the defendant's right to a fair trial."

CPS invites sport bodies to roundtables on social media cases

The CPS has extended its series of roundtables on prosecuting cases involving social media to include one in November with representatives invited from the FA, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the British Olympic Association and the Rugby Football Union.

Last month the Director of Public Prosecutions announced his intention to host the roundtables ahead of drafting new guidelines on the prosecution of cases involving social media.

Invites have been sent to the sport bodies following round tables held so far with academics, media lawyers, stakeholders, police and regulators and journalists and bloggers.

Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said:

“It has not gone unnoticed that the use of social media among those involved in and following sport is becoming more and more prevalent and a number of recent high-profile criminal cases have involved sports personalities.

“It is important that our draft guidelines on prosecuting cases involving social media are as fully informed as possible, which is why I have decided to hold a sixth meeting with sports organisations to seek their views on the issue.

“One of the points already discussed during the meetings held so far has been that of racism on social media. We know that a number of sports associations undertake significant work to tackle racism within their respective sports and I look forward to listening to the expertise of those invited on this and the other points for discussion.”

For more information about the roundtables, see DPP’s statement on Tom Daley case and social media prosecutions and the points for discussion on social media roundtables.

Decision on file of evidence arising from Operation Elveden

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

“The CPS received a file of evidence from the Independent Police Complaints Commission in May 2012, and we have since been liaising with them regarding further lines of enquiry. That process has now been concluded.

“The allegation in this case related to a meeting that took place between a senior MPS officer and a journalist in 2006, during which information was imparted to the journalist about the MPS investigation into phone hacking. We were asked to consider whether the provision of that information, in the particular circumstances of this case, amounted to an offence of misconduct in public office.

“The purpose of the meeting was to gauge the willingness of the journalist, as a potential victim of crime, to provide a witness statement to support the ongoing prosecution. The evidence showed that the meeting had been convened in accordance with the MPS’ victim strategy for this investigation. The evidence also showed that the nature of the matters subsequently discussed at the meeting was not such as to amount to wilful misconduct or neglect on the part of the officer, and the conduct was therefore not such as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust.

“There was no evidence to suggest that the officer had behaved corruptly or dishonestly.

“Accordingly, having reviewed the evidence carefully in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, we have reached the conclusion that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction in this case.

“Given that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the officer, the question of whether or not it would be in the public interest does not fall for consideration.”