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Written Question
Crown Prosecution Service
Thursday 9th July 2015

Asked by: Simon Danczuk (Independent - Rochdale)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, if he will review the position of the incumbent Director of Public Prosecutions in view of the recent decision to charge Lord Janner.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

Decisions on whether or not to bring criminal charges are taken by prosecutors who are independent from government and independent from Parliament. I am confident of the independence and the integrity of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alison Saunders, in making the difficult judgements the job of a prosecutor involves.

The Victims’ Right to Review, which Alison Saunders helped to bring in, allows any victim of crime who is dissatisfied with a decision taken by a prosecutor not to proceed with their case to ask for the decision to be reviewed. This review has operated as it was designed to in the case of Greville Janner.

We are world leaders in offering that safeguard for victims and since Alison Saunders has been DPP, the CPS has prosecuted and convicted more child sex offenders than ever before.


Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 23 Jun 2015
Crown Prosecution Service

"I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Teresa Pearce) for securing this debate, which certainly needed to be had.

My involvement with the Crown Prosecution Service in recent years has mainly focused on the failure to prosecute child sex abusers. We know that in the 1960s, …..."
Simon Danczuk - View Speech

View all Simon Danczuk (Ind - Rochdale) contributions to the debate on: Crown Prosecution Service
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 23 Jun 2015
Crown Prosecution Service

"I understand that, Mrs Main. Although there is no case against Lord Janner—..."
Simon Danczuk - View Speech

View all Simon Danczuk (Ind - Rochdale) contributions to the debate on: Crown Prosecution Service
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 23 Jun 2015
Crown Prosecution Service

"Thank you, Mrs Main. I always appreciate your guidance in these matters.

The CPS’s failure to prosecute cases can have a real impact and can be extremely damaging. Research shows that child sexual abuse victims die on average 20 years early: they may commit suicide, become alcoholic or drug dependent, …..."
Simon Danczuk - View Speech

View all Simon Danczuk (Ind - Rochdale) contributions to the debate on: Crown Prosecution Service
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 23 Jun 2015
Crown Prosecution Service

"Thank you, Mrs Main. I appreciate that.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has said that Lord Janner will not offend again. But the failure to prosecute Lord Janner offends every principle of justice. He may not abuse again, but the legacy of the abuse continues. His victims need the truth …..."
Simon Danczuk - View Speech

View all Simon Danczuk (Ind - Rochdale) contributions to the debate on: Crown Prosecution Service
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 29 Jan 2013
RSPCA (Prosecutions)

"Does the hon. Gentleman accept that upholding the law is not a political act? Prosecuting lawbreakers is not an overtly political act, and a range of organisations that bring private prosecutions are not particularly political...."
Simon Danczuk - View Speech

View all Simon Danczuk (Ind - Rochdale) contributions to the debate on: RSPCA (Prosecutions)
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 29 Jan 2013
RSPCA (Prosecutions)

"The hon. and learned Gentleman will accept that the Law Commission considered the issue of private prosecutors in 1998 and found that adequate safeguards were in place. That was relatively recent. Does it not explain the situation? Everything is okay and should continue as it is...."
Simon Danczuk - View Speech

View all Simon Danczuk (Ind - Rochdale) contributions to the debate on: RSPCA (Prosecutions)