I was interested to read the letter from Ken Macdonald QC, Director of Public Prosecutions (see [2004] Gazette, 27 May, 14).

It is commendable that the Crown Prosecution Service is playing a fuller role in the criminal justice system and is recruiting and retaining many talented lawyers across England and Wales.

Can it be too much to hope that these recruits will be trained to reply to letters from defence solicitors and return telephone calls that in turn may lead to monies being saved from the public purse and far fewer adjournments being requested by the Crown because of a failure to deal with legitimate defence queries?

Brenda Ishani, Keppe Shaw & Partners, London