Criminal prosecutions

In England and Wales the vast majority of prosecutions are undertaken by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but a number of other agencies also have responsibility for undertaking criminal prosecutions. These include the agencies responsible for enforcing laws regulating many aspects of business, trade and commerce. Taxation matters are the responsibility of the Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue departments, many government departments are responsible for investigating frauds and other offences involving business, trade and financial services. These include the Serious Fraud Office and the Department of Trade and Industry. Local authority departments are responsible for consumer protection, environmental health and pollution. Private individuals may also prosecute but this only accounts for a very small number of prosecutions.

Before the creation of the CPS in the 1980s, the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were responsible for prosecution of offenders. The task of the DPP was to institute, undertake or carry on criminal proceedings, and to give advice and assistance to chief officer of police and other persons responsible for the prosecution of offences. The DPP was responsible for prosecuting cases of murder, along with those involving national security, public figures and police officers.

The police were responsible for the prosecution of routine offences in Magistrates’ Courts. They were advised by solicitors, who were either employed or consulted by them, and who conducted more complex cases in the magistrates’ courts. Barristers on behalf of the police conducted cases in Crown Courts.

The police were therefore both investigators and prosecutors. The roles of investigating crime, collecting evidence and arresting suspects were likely to interfere with the impartial review of a case and decisions about whether to prosecute or not. The dual responsibility could also lead to the abuse of the rights of the arrested person by the police, as a result of an anxiety to convict those whom the police believed were guilty. Except that there was no uniform system of prosecution.

The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 established the CPS and specified its functions which included taking over the conduct of all criminal proceedings instituted by the police. They are the following:

• to give pre-charge advice to the police and other law-enforcement agencies on the admissibility of evidence;

• to review all cases in terms of whether there is sufficient evidence for a case to proceed and whether it is in the public interest;

• to oversee the progress of the case after the papers have been passed from the police;

• to conduct the prosecution of cases in the magistrates’ courts;

• to instruct counsel to appear in the Crown Court on the behalf of the CPS.

The CPS therefore represents a single independent and nationwide authority for England and Wales. It is independent of the police and has the power to discontinue prosecutions, but it has no powers to institute proceedings or to direct the police to carry out further investigations.

Once an accused person has been charged or summoned the papers are passed to the appropriate branch of the CPS and the CPS is under the duty to review and to conduct the case. This includes deciding which charges should be proceeded with, what evidence is relevant and admissible and whether or not it is sufficient. It also includes assessing whether or not it is in the public interest to continue with the prosecution and, if so, ensuring that the case is prepared and ready for trial. In a trial the CPS or counsels instructed by it represent the prosecution.

Післятекстові завдання

20. Змініть стан дієслова-присудка в наведених реченнях за наведеним зразком.

Приклад. The police must prevent crimes. – Crimes must be prevented by the police.

1. Every police officer holds the office of constable. 2. The police performs the bulk of investigatory and law enforcement work. 3. The court found him guilty of murder. 4. The police seized and arrested the criminal. 5. The police make the most important and difficult decisions. 6. Neglect of health and safety regulations caused many injuries and deaths.

21. Випишіть із навчальних текстів 7 речень із дієсловом-присудком у пасивному стані. Трансформуйте ре-чення, якщо це можливо, змінивши пасивний стан на актив-ний.

22. Запишіть подані речення, визначте частини складних речень та підкресліть підмет і присудок. Визначте, якою неособовою формою дієслова є підкреслені слова та перекладіть речення.

1.This includes deciding which charges should be proceeded with, what evidence is relevant and admissible and whether or not it is sufficient.2.The CPS is under the duty to review and to conduct the case. 3. This means that in order to consider a person culpable, it must be established that an offender has not only committed an offence but is responsible for it. 4. There is no simple way of defining what behaviour is criminal, and this may vary between different countries and over time.5.Thus the criminal law specifies who can enforce the law and what procedures are necessary to investigate and prosecute crime, adjudicate on guilt and decide on an appropriate sentence.

23. Випишіть із навчальних текстів ІІІ та IV семестрів 5 речень з присудком, вираженим модальним дієсловом з інфінітивом. Визначте форму інфінітива та перекладіть речення.

24. Випишіть із навчальних текстів по 5 речень з неособовими формами дієслова Participle I і Participle II. Підкресліть дієприкметники та визначте їх вид (Participle I або Participle II). Перекладіть речення.

25. Випишіть із навчальних текстів 10 речень з герундієм, підкресліть цю неособову форму дієслова. Перекладіть речення.

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