The part of FDA Union representing Crown Prosecutors and Senior Managers in the Crown Prosecution Service - The views expressed here are not those of the CPS.
London UK
Joined March 2012
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We welcome the government's acknowledgment that fundamental reform is needed to tackle Crown Court backlogs to ensure justice is delivered. The FDA appreciates the challenge of balancing meaningful change with upholding legal principles.
Jury trials could be scrapped for some offenders to stop courts hitting backlog of 100k cases @ShabanaMahmood signals @sarahsackman @TheCriminalBar @AlexChalkChelt @PoliceInspForum @VictimsComm @LDNVictimsComm @PGA_Prisons @PhillipBowen45 @VeraBaird telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12…
Earlier this year we published our report highlighting the barriers our CPS members face when prosecuting the most serious sexual offences and looked at how they can be removed - including recommendations on courts planning, listings, and estates.
fda.org.uk/news/cps-must-hav…
FDA CPS Section retweeted
This isn't a political game @iainmacwhirter, it’s the criminal justice system. Independent prosecutors don’t put up or shut up to suit political interests, they assess if there is sufficient admissible evidence to justify commencing of proceedings & if it's in the public interest
FDA CPS Section retweeted
As reported in Politico and The Times, today the FDA launches our report in Parliament on how CPS can be better resourced to increase prosecutions of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences: thetimes.com/uk/law/article/…
FDA CPS Section retweeted
Looking forward to attending the launch of our new report tomorrow & hearing the impressive panel discuss how our CPS members can be supported to increase prosecutions for Rape & Serious Sexual Offences.
Book your place -tickettailor.com/events/infl…
ALT Graphics card showing speakers for a report launch on 12 September. Speakers are Alex Brewer MP, Rachel Sylvester, Stephen Head, Amelia Handy, Hama Melly KC and Sam Townend KC.
FDA CPS Section retweeted
The CPS are recruiting paralegal assistants now!
This is an exciting opportunity to kick-start your legal career, working as part of a prosecution team to prepare cases for court.
Apply here 👉 bit.ly/45GYNTV
ALT Quote, I wanted to gain some legal experience, and this role has been a great introduction into the legal profession. In this court-based role you are assisting lawyers everyday'. Tom, Paralegal Assistant. Photo of CPS employee with short brown hair.
FDA CPS Section retweeted
We will be recruiting for prosecutors to join the CPS soon!
📅 Keep an eye out. Applications open for crown prosecutor and senior crown prosecutor positions on Monday 18 September.
Check out our website for updates 👉 cps.gov.uk/careers-cps
ALT Image of Tamina, Senior Crown Prosecutor with the following quote "What we do as prosecutors is immensely important to society as a whole. For me it's the best decision I've made moving to prosecuting."
Sadly not jaw-dropping for @FDA_union prosecutor members @CPSUK, but an all too familiar experience of excess workload which is "unrelenting". We'll work with CPS to fix it, but the solution's not simple.
Jaw-dropping stat from @MaxHillKC
A “busy” prosecutor in a Crown Court @CPSUK team is managing 100 to 110 cases.
“That’s an awful lot,” Hill tells @CommonsJustice. “That’s too high”.
He says the average - which was at one stage 130-140 - should be “below 100”.
FDA CPS Section retweeted
“Hard-working FDA members and their colleagues in the CPS are often working through the night from home to provide charging advice and decisions”- @FDA_CPS_Section’s Duncan Woodhead responds to comments from the Met Commissioner
theguardian.com/law/2023/may…
FDA CPS Section retweeted
On a day like no other, my 'FDA in 60 seconds' from FDA towers, fresh from the most disappointing meeting ministerial meeting I’ve ever had - and that’s saying something.
The @FDA_union and others outline why returning charging to the police is a bad idea. theguardian.com/uk-news/2023…
FDA CPS Section retweeted
Nice one Harry. Being in the office clearly doesn’t improve your ability to fact check. Is the Wifi down at The Sun? We’re not on strike on the 1st.
We're confident of the value that @attorneygeneral @VictoriaPrentis places on CPS staff to deliver within the criminal justice system, so we look forward to meeting her to discuss CPS pay.
“FDA members in the CPS regularly report working excessive hours, and have just overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer that represents a massive real-terms pay cut.”
Duncan Woodhead calls for the government to finally act to resolve the crisis in the criminal justice system:
The Managing Work-related Stress Policy was designed by FDA members working in CPS - the first of its kind implemented in a UK government department or agency. Find out more about the work of the FDA CPS Section: fda.org.uk/cps
Stress and anxiety are consistently worker's main health and safety concerns at work. @FDASteven told @WEmFEvents how the FDA & @FDA_CPS_Section worked with CPS on a ground-breaking stress policy benefiting individuals and their organisation as a whole. fda.org.uk/home/Newsandmedia…
This is encouraging news from @TheCriminalBar and @thebarcouncil, says FDA National Officer Duncan Woodhead, but huge challenges remain and the government must take decisive action and provide the necessary funding to resolve the crisis in the criminal justice system. 1/4
The government has said that swift action for victims is a priority, but this is far from the real world experience of FDA members in courtrooms across England and Wales. 3/4