I wonder whether the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is wise to be so delighted that the Crown Prosecution Service has received some trifling award for its legal training programme (see [2004] Gazette, 9 December, 37).


The scheme costs the taxpayer £1.6 million a year for each of three years, and aims to let administrative staff qualify as lawyers.


That is, of course, entirely laudable, but in the first two years only 82 did so, out of 547 people who took part in the programme. A success rate of under 15% is not impressive.


The taxpayer may also be excused for wondering whether the £3.2 million the scheme cost in 2003 and 2004 was prudently spent when each of the 82 successful candidates cost the state on average £39,000 to qualify.


The DPP should think again about the effectiveness of this exercise.



John Edwards, solicitor, former branch Crown prosecutor, Chester