Assessment: three out of 22 CPS areas rated as poor, but 55% rated as good to excellent

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Inspectorate said this week that it has found a 'wide range of performance in the CPS', as it published the results of its controversial new assessment regime.


Three of the 22 CPS areas assessed - Bedfordshire, Cumbria, and Devon and Cornwall - were branded 'poor'. However, South Yorkshire and Humberside scored 'excellent', while ten others were ranked as 'good', and seven were 'fair'.


Devon and Cornwall performed well in terms of successful outcomes, while Cumbria had fair or better outcomes and casework standards. However, neither area successfully managed its resources or delivered key initiatives. Bedfordshire had good resource management, but had 'difficulty delivering successful outcomes, albeit undertaking good work with victims and witnesses'.


South Yorkshire, the smallest metropolitan area, was praised for being 'strong across the board'.


Results were based on factors including pre-charge decision making, successful outcomes in casework, and services to victims and witnesses. Reports on the remaining 20 areas will be published next spring.


CPS chief inspector Stephen Wooler said: 'There is a wide range of performance within the CPS. It will be important for the service to work with its weaker areas to improve.'


CPS chief executive Richard Foster said: 'I welcome the fact that this first batch of reports [shows 55% of] areas are performing to an excellent or good level. We are taking immediate and decisive steps to address aspects of work where we are underperforming and we aim to have these three areas performing to at least a fair standard by the time of the next inspection.'


Kris Venkatasami, national convenor for prosecutors' union the First Division Association, said: 'We deplore the use of this ratings system. Just like league tables [for schools], they fail to demonstrate what the actual problems and issues are. There is a danger with crude statistics. Will the areas labelled as poor be given additional resources, and what will it mean for morale?'