CPS outlines plan to combat racism in the service

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a three-year plan to tackle racism in the service and elsewhere, although statistics show that it is three years ahead of target in the recruitment of ethnic minority staff.

The service's new race equality scheme also details how the CPS will review incitement to racial hatred cases, consider using independent advisers for serious complaints against the police, and produce a public statement on racially aggravated crime.

The Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith QC, said: 'This scheme further opens the CPS to scrutiny and enables the public to test its commitment to race equality in measurable ways.'

Statistics revealed at the launch showed that CPS targets for minority recruitment by 2005 have already been achieved.

Some 5.4% of E grade lawyers - the highest in the service - are from minorities (the target was 3%), as are 10% of chief crown prosecutors (7% target).

The scheme follows a mixed report by the CPS Inspectorate last week on the service's handling of casework having a minority ethnic dimension.

Among the findings, which in part praised the CPS for 'encouraging improvement', were criticisms that prosecutors did not always possess necessary or available information, or appreciate they were under-informed, when taking decisions on cases arising from racist incidents.

Peter Herbert QC, vice-chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers and a contributor to the review, said: 'There is obviously a need for further training for CPS lawyers so they understand what a racially aggravated case is and don't just pass it over as rudeness or drunkenness.

How this report is disseminated throughout the CPS will be the big test.'

Mr Herbert also expressed concern about the high discontinuance rates for cases involving ethnic minority defendants (18%) compared to the average for all cases (13%).

'It is unacceptable that such a high volume of these cases are being plea bargained away,' he said.

The CPS said it would produce an action plan on how it would take the report's recommendations forward.

Andrew Towler