Poor police early prosecutor advice
Ineffective processes for police to obtain early advice from prosecutors on charging decisions, leading to delays or suboptimal outcomes.
18 items
3 sources
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Poor police early prosecutor advice has been flagged across 3 independent accountability sources:
6 PFD reports
4 committee recs
8 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
PFD Reports (6)
Gregory Rewkowski
Concerns: The coroner notes practical difficulties for nurses raising welfare concerns on an acute ward, unclear reasons for the clinical lead's inaction, failure to escalate to a senior manager, restrictions on ward telephones, limited NWAS investigation, and concerns about police handling of Section 136 cases.
Response (Pennine Care NHS Trust): Pennine Care NHS Trust has increased staffing levels, issued a memo to staff for greater awareness of the requirement to seek support from On-Call managers, and are planning to update …
Response (Greater Manchester Police): Greater Manchester Police will participate in a task and finish group and is represented at senior level on the GM Health and Justice Operational Delivery Group and the Greater Manchester …
Response (GMCA): The partnership has developed a pan-GM protocol for response to mental health crisis, aiming for a common understanding of roles and responsibilities, a shared view of risk, and improved communication.
Responded
Nigel Abbott
Concerns: A critical misunderstanding exists between agencies regarding the urgent execution of Mental Health Act warrants, leading to ineffective inter-agency cooperation and a failure to learn from incidents, risking public safety.
Response (NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB): The Home Treatment Team Operational Procedure has been revised and approved, to ensure that it fully corresponds with the safeguards for fully assessed and initially assessed patients waiting for a …
Responded
Hedley Robinson
Concerns: A S.136 Mental Health Act assessment was conducted without critical information or discussion with relevant police, indicating an urgent need to review S.136 procedures.
Overdue
Leighton Dickens
Concerns: Police officers have limited access to qualified mental health advice and clinical records when responding to mental health crises, as urgent support teams are not readily available and a promised service is unimplemented.
Overdue
Sylvia Crowther
Concerns: Police failed to seek the victim's views on bail conditions for her husband, as required by law, and she was not informed of these conditions, missing an opportunity to consider alternative support.
Response (Bedfordshire Police): Bedfordshire Police acknowledges the report and outlines its approach to domestic abuse cases, including training, DA champions, and proactive engagement. They explain the use of DVPN/DVPOs and defend the decision …
Responded
Claire Driver
Concerns: Mental health teams exhibited inadequate assertive engagement and poor police liaison for a deteriorating patient, compounded by a lack of mandatory staff training on substance misuse and mental health.
Response (South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust): SWYPT is reviewing intensive and assertive community support, updating referral pathways, and has included working with people with co-existing mental health problems and substance misuse issues as a priority area …
Responded
Committee Recommendations (4)
#2 — Inadequate contempt of court laws and CPS guidance fail social media era communication needs.
Recommendation: Merseyside Police were put in a very difficult position given legal restrictions on communicating the identity of the Southport suspect and the need to withhold certain information in order to protect the trial. The inconsistent advice from the CPS over …
Gov response: It is important that we learn the lessons from the most significant public disorder in more than a decade. The Government and police are now carefully considering the recommendations made by the Inspectorate as well …
Under Consideration
#85 — Review police process for obtaining early advice from prosecutors on charging decisions.
Recommendation: We recommend the CPS and NPCC review the process for police obtaining early advice from prosecutors before full case files are prepared or submitted and charging decisions made. Where possible, we recommend this work draw on local examples of existing …
Gov response: 117. We are working with the NPCC to design a CJ Unit Optimum model focused on improving case progression and communication with the CPS. This will include consideration of EIA, and good practice across forces. …
Accepted
#83 — Review the implementation and impact of CPS DG6 guidance with stakeholders.
Recommendation: Now that DG6 has been in place for almost three years, we recommend the CPS review its implementation and impact, consulting stakeholders before proposing changes that will better reflect an appropriate balance between the need for effective early investigation and …
Gov response: 113. The Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences commenced on 12 October. The terms of reference state that the Review will assess the operation of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the …
Not Addressed
#82 — Victims suffer from police and CPS disagreements over investigation burden.
Recommendation: As the police and CPS bicker over where the burden of investigation and paperwork should lie, victims and survivors lose out. We understand the rationale for DG6 and we note that the CPS consulted forces and the NPCC when designing …
Gov response: 113. The Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences commenced on 12 October. The terms of reference state that the Review will assess the operation of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the …
Not Addressed
LGO / SPSO Decisions (8)
24-009-827 — Wokingham Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council failing to appropriately deal with her reports of anti-social behaviour from her neighbour, who is a council tenant. This is because the complaint is out of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction as it concerns the Council’s actions as a social housing …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Nov 2024
24-002-263 — London Borough of Harrow
Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to take action against his neighbour for noisy building works during 2022. I ended this investigation because Mr X’s complaint is late, and we are unlikely able to add to the Council’s investigation or achieve anything further for Mr X than its offer …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Nov 2024
24-018-886 — Westmorland and Furness Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his reports of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour from his neighbours. This is because his complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider the late complaint. In addition, there is insufficient …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2025
24-003-794 — Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to ensure his neighbour maintained the trees and bushes in their front garden. We find no fault in the Council’s handling of the high hedges matter itself. However, there was a significant delay in responding to Mr X’s complaint. The Council has apologised …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
May 2025
25-000-641 — Lincoln City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council issuing a community protection warning letter for removal of graffiti on private property. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2025
25-000-853 — Canterbury City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s investigation of nuisance and its issue of an abatement notice to Mr X. We will not investigate this complaint because it was reasonable for Mr X to appeal against the notice. If the Council takes court action against him for …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2025
25-005-481 — Leeds City Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council failed to take action against his neighbours, who are Council tenants, after his fence was damaged. This is because we have no power to consider the Council’s action in connection with its management of its social housing.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2025
25-001-406 — London Borough of Ealing
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mr X’s concerns about antisocial behaviour and safeguarding. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2025