The House of Commons Justice Committee is holding an evidence session seeking to identify the implications for the justice system of the quashing by the Court of Appeal of the convictions of 39 Post Office workers who were wrongly accused of theft.
Watch Parliament TV: Private prosecutions: safeguards
Inquiry: Private prosecutions: safeguards
Justice Committee
Background
The cases are significant not only because of the injustice faced by the Post Office workers but because they raise questions about the regulation of private prosecutions – that is, prosecutions brought by private organisations rather than the Crown Prosecution Service. The Post Office workers were prosecuted by The Post Office, which was acting as prosecutor while at the same time being the alleged victim of the crime.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the statutory body responsible for investigating alleged miscarriages of justice, has referred a total of 47 Post Office worker cases to the courts for appeal. In June 2020, the CCRC asked the Justice Committee to look at the issue of private prosecutions, in particular whether there were sufficient legal safeguards in place to regulate organisations which both investigate and prosecute criminal offences.
The Justice Committee conducted an inquiry and made recommendations seeking to strengthen the regulation of private prosecutions. The government’s response to the report, published in March 2021, rejected the Committee’s main proposals.
In April 2021 the Court of Appeal quashed 39 of the cases. Lord Justice Holroyd’s judgment described the prosecution of the cases as “an affront to the court”.
Purpose of the session
The Committee’s evidence session on May 25 will be with the senior leadership of the CCRC and several other senior lawyers with experience in the area of concern. The aims of the session include:
identifying the implications for the justice system of the quashing of the cases;
exploring the role of the CCRC in the matter; and
discussing the recommendations made by the Justice Committee concerning changes in the private prosecution regulations, and the government’s response.
Witnesses
Tuesday 25 May
At 2.30pm
Panel 1
- Helen Pitcher, Chair, CCRC
Karen Kneller, Chief Executive, CCRC
Miles Trent,Case Review Manager, CCRC
- Stephen Wooler CB, Former HM Chief Inspector to the Crown Prosecution Service (1999–2010); Committee Member,Criminal Law Reform Now Network
Paul Jarvis, Barrister, 6KBW College Hill Chambers; Committee Member,Criminal Law Reform Now Network
Andrew Marshall, Partner, Edmonds Marshall McMahon (private prosecution law firm)
Further information
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