In a (short) break between 'customers' in pre-charge advice, I have been kept amused by the reported comments of Rodney Warren and Steven Jonas (see [2004] Gazette, 11 November, 1) regarding the Crown Prosecution Service's charging scheme.

It is now 1.30pm and, since 9am, I have dealt with 15 cases - deciding for or against charge and deciding appropriate types and levels of charges.


I haven't noticed any chaos here today.


I have not been leaving criminals to roam the streets - those who merit charging will be charged (and where appropriate kept in custody to appear before court) - those where there is insufficient evidence or those whom it is not in the public interest to prosecute, will not be charged.


I am not here to bring up charging levels so as to prevent smaller firms of solicitors from suffering 'serious financial troubles'.


I think these gentlemen should be prepared for leaner times - and not being able to make money out of weak prosecution cases that should never have been charged in the first place.


Paul Griffin, senior Crown prosecutor, CPS Dorset