The Crown Prosecution Service is the most diverse workforce in Whitehall, but there is still room for improvement, according to the findings of its Annual Equalities in Employment Report 2003-2004.

The report, produced by independent equality and diversity consultants Sankofa Exchange and the eleventh of its kind, shows there are more women and ethnic minority staff working at the CPS than the previous year.


It also shows an increase in the number of women and ethnic minority staff employed as chief crown prosecutors and in other senior positions. Women accounted for 67% of the CPS workforce in April 2004 compared to the civil service average of 52.3%. The proportion of female chief crown prosecutors increased from 18.2% to 22%.


Overall there was an increase of 1.5% in ethnic minority staff. In April 2004, they made up 14.2% of all CPS employees. The number of ethnic minority legal trainees increased from 25% to 40.5%, while the proportion of ethnic minority crown prosecutors at C1 level (lawyer entry grade) increased from 24.9% to 30% and at C2 level from 6.7% to 10.9%.


The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC, said: ‘Crime affects people from all walks of life and from all communities and it is important that our staff are representative of the diverse communities we serve.’


He added that there was no room for complacency, and said the CPS was determined to put in place policy and training that would increase representation of these groups, particularly at senior levels.


Seamus Taylor, CPS Director of Equality and Diversity, said the figures were the result of a range of activities over recent years aimed at transforming the CPS by eradicating racism and negativity from the workplace.


In 2001, Mr Macdonald’s predecessor, David Calvert-Smith QC, admitted that the CPS was ‘institutionally racist’.


Mr Taylor said: ‘There has been a strong leadership from Ken Macdonald and David Calvert-Smith that equality and diversity matter.


‘We have launched advertising reflecting and welcoming diversity, reviewed the recruitment process and put in place key policies in the prosecution of racist, religious, homophobic and domestic violence crimes that reflect our internal policies.’


According to Mary Moore, CPS Head of HR Information and Employee Wellbeing, another key factor has been the law scholarship scheme, which funds people through education and training to become crown prosecutors. Of the 237 selected in 2003/4, 69.2% were women and 23% came from ethnic minorities.


Baljit Ubhey joined the CPS 12 years ago as a legal trainee and for the last six months has been a chief crown prosecutor for Thames Valley. She said that, while she had experienced a relatively rapid career progression, it had not been the same for many others.


Ms Ubhey observed: ‘Over the last four years there have been real changes in focus and a greater emphasis on promoting equality and diversity.’’



Links: www.cps.gov.uk