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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Inquiry into court's 'bungling' | Inquiry into court's 'bungling' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An inquiry has been launched after claims hundreds of defendants escaped justice during a catalogue of blunders at Leeds Magistrates' Court. | An inquiry has been launched after claims hundreds of defendants escaped justice during a catalogue of blunders at Leeds Magistrates' Court. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw launched the inquiry amid claims many offenders simply did not attend court or have their cases followed up. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw launched the inquiry amid claims many offenders simply did not attend court or have their cases followed up. |
| Mr Straw has charged senior legal figures with investigating Leeds Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland's claims. | Mr Straw has charged senior legal figures with investigating Leeds Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland's claims. |
| The Ministry of Justice said a senior judge would also investigate the cases. | The Ministry of Justice said a senior judge would also investigate the cases. |
| Mr Straw said he had asked HM Chief Inspector of Courts Administration to work with the Chief Inspectors for the Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service to conduct "a thorough inspection". | |
| Historical process | Historical process |
| In a written ministerial statement to MPs, Mr Straw said two issues of concern had arisen at the court. | In a written ministerial statement to MPs, Mr Straw said two issues of concern had arisen at the court. |
| These concerned the recording of outcomes of cases between 1997 and 2003 and subsequently in the case of recordable offences, updating the Police National Computer, a process known as "resulting". | These concerned the recording of outcomes of cases between 1997 and 2003 and subsequently in the case of recordable offences, updating the Police National Computer, a process known as "resulting". |
| The other is centred on the process used for withdrawing warrants issued by the court for the arrest of defendants who fail to appear, he added. | The other is centred on the process used for withdrawing warrants issued by the court for the arrest of defendants who fail to appear, he added. |
| Mr Straw said: "The investigations will verify the number of cases involved, the breakdown of offences and the position regarding the Police National Computer." | Mr Straw said: "The investigations will verify the number of cases involved, the breakdown of offences and the position regarding the Police National Computer." |
| Mr Straw said that a "continuing issue" was identified at Leeds following a national review "about the effectiveness of processes for resulting the 2.2 million cases dealt with in the magistrates' court each year." | Mr Straw said that a "continuing issue" was identified at Leeds following a national review "about the effectiveness of processes for resulting the 2.2 million cases dealt with in the magistrates' court each year." |
| He continued: "As part of the work that court staff were undertaking to look at these issues, this month they identified a further problem with an historical process dating back to 2003 to withdraw old Failure to Appear warrants which had been agreed by the court, the CPS and the police. | He continued: "As part of the work that court staff were undertaking to look at these issues, this month they identified a further problem with an historical process dating back to 2003 to withdraw old Failure to Appear warrants which had been agreed by the court, the CPS and the police. |
| "Although the withdrawal of warrants is entirely appropriate in certain circumstances, the process used in Leeds needs to be investigated." | "Although the withdrawal of warrants is entirely appropriate in certain circumstances, the process used in Leeds needs to be investigated." |