Your correspondent Judith Mills (see [2009] Gazette, Letters, 26 March, 11) unfairly and inaccurately attacked the standard of Crown Prosecution Service associate prosecutors. I strongly refute her comments.

The use of associate prosecutors has been commented upon by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee, and both recommended a greater use of them to increase the efficient running of the magistrates’ courts.

All associate prosecutors are in the process of becoming members of the Institute of Legal Executives. Membership will place associate prosecutors within the institute’s independent regulatory framework and, as members, they must comply with the institute’s code of conduct and guides to good practice.

Associate prosecutors also comply with the CPS National Standards of Advocacy requiring all prosecution advocates to prosecute cases fairly and independently and in accordance with the overriding objective of the Criminal Procedure Rules.

My own discussions with magistrates, defence solicitors and court staff in Avon & Somerset entirely support a complimentary assessment of associate prosecutors. Ms Mills’ criticism of their professionalism is misplaced and incorrect.

Barry Hughes, Chief Crown Prosecutor, London