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Private prosecutions: safeguards

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Jun 2020 Closed: 31 Oct 2022 8 recommendations 1 conclusion 1 report

This inquiry examined the safeguards that exist for private prosecutions brought by organisations who act as the investigator, prosecutor but are also the victim of the alleged offence. It looked at: Whether existing safeguards are enough to limit the potential for private prosecutions by large organisations to cause miscarriages of justice The merits of additional … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
9th Report: Private prosecutions: safeguards HC 497 2 Oct 2020 9 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
5 Recommendation 9th Report: Private prosecutions: safeg… Accepted

We recommend that HMCTS establish a central register of all private prosecutions in England and...

We recommend that HMCTS establish a central register of all private prosecutions in England and Wales.

Government response AI summary
The government agrees to establish a central register of private prosecutions, stating it is in hand and will be completed by the end of this year, including prosecutor/defendant names, offence, and summons application status.
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Ministry of Justice
9 Recommendation 9th Report: Private prosecutions: safeg… Accepted

It is incumbent on the Government to ensure that the rise in the number of...

It is incumbent on the Government to ensure that the rise in the number of private prosecutions does not result in the development of a parallel system where the public interest, accountability and transparency are secondary to private interests. (Paragraph 77) 32 Private prosecutions: safeguards Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees there should be no disparity between private and public prosecutions and is confident that reforms made to Criminal Procedure Rules in 2019 and proposed changes to the costs regime will prevent a parallel justice system.
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Ministry of Justice

Correspondence

6 letters
DateDirectionTitle
1 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Gareth Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justi…
18 Jan 2022 To cttee Letter from James Cartlidge MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Just…
8 Dec 2021 From cttee Letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, dated 25 November 2021…
22 Jul 2021 — Evidence from Post Office on Private prosecutions safeguards
24 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from Helen Pitcher, Chairman, Criminal Cases Review Commission on Post O…
24 Jun 2020 To cttee Letter from Sir Robert Neill MP, Chair, Justice Committee to Helen Pitcher, Cha…