A recent review of the Crown Prosecution Service in London rated its standard of performance ‘poor’ in 12 of the 32 London boroughs. So grievous were the failings outlined in the report by HM CPS Inspectorate, that it concluded defendants in the capital were more likely to walk free because their case was dropped rather than being acquitted by a jury. To address this worrying state of affairs, Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, has published a list of ‘core quality standards’ to inform his staff of what is expected of them. And it’s fair to say, they cannot on any reading be described as unduly onerous. Examples include pledges to ‘present our cases fairly and firmly’; ‘prepare all our cases promptly in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Rules’; ‘provide the police with advice to assist in tackling crime’; and ‘explain our decisions to victims’. There is not even any commitment to do these tasks to a high standard. Obiter is reminded of a school report relating to author Jilly Cooper (pictured), which read: 'She has set herself an extremely low standard, which she has failed to maintain.’ Cooper, of course, went on to be hugely successful in her chosen field. Let’s hope the CPS can emulate her.