Private prosecutions: safeguards

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 23 Jun 2020 Closed: 31 Oct 2022 Parliament page
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 … Read more
8 Recommendations
1 Conclusion
1 Report
6 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
1 Nov
2022
Correspondence
18 Jan
2022
Correspondence
8 Dec
2021
Correspondence
22 Jul
2021
Correspondence
4 Mar
2021
Report published
2 Oct
2020
Report published
24 Jun
2020
Correspondence
24 Jun
2020
Correspondence
Title HC No. Published Items Response
9th Report: Private prosecutions: safeguards HC 497 2 Oct 2020 9 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report: Private prosecutions: …
The startling figures on the scale of the Post Office’s prosecutions, together with concerns raised...
The startling figures on the scale of the Post Office’s prosecutions, together with concerns raised by the Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in relation to the RSPCA in 2016 and reports that the number of private prosecutions is rising, … Read more
Government Response
The government shares the Committee's concern regarding the rise in private prosecutions and notes that the RSPCA's role as prosecutor is currently under discussion with the Attorney General's Office.
Ministry of Justice
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report: Private prosecutions: …
It is a strength of the current system that it enables corporate victims of crime...
It is a strength of the current system that it enables corporate victims of crime to pursue justice when public authorities decline to intervene. The lack of a prosecution can represent injustice just as much as a prosecution wrongly brought. … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that private prosecutions brought by victims, whether corporate or individual, still play a valuable role when public authorities cannot prosecute every worthy offence.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 9 of 8 classified
Accepted 2
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 2
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 2
Total 8 recs + 1 conclusion
Correspondence 6 letters
1 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from Gareth Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, dated 25 October 2022, on private prosecutions - safeguards
Parliament page
18 Jan 2022 To committee Letter from James Cartlidge MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, dated 13 January 2022, on Private Prosecutions Safeguards
Parliament page
8 Dec 2021 From committee Letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, dated 25 November 2021, on the response to Private Prosecutions report
Parliament page
22 Jul 2021 Evidence from Post Office on Private prosecutions safeguards
Parliament page
24 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from Helen Pitcher, Chairman, Criminal Cases Review Commission on Post Office private prosecutions
Parliament page
24 Jun 2020 To committee Letter from Sir Robert Neill MP, Chair, Justice Committee to Helen Pitcher, Chairman, Criminal Cases Review Commission on Private prosecutions: safeguards
Parliament page