[WiLT] Consultation on policy for prosecuting cases of domestic violence - closes 29th Oct

[WiL Admin]

A consultation on the CPS policy for prosecuting cases of domestic
violence

The consultation process

The aim of this consultation paper is to seek a wide range of views to
inform the policy and practice of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
in relation to prosecuting cases of domestic violence.

The CPS has responsibility for reviewing cases of domestic violence
and applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors to decide whether or not
there should be a prosecution. To assist prosecutors making that
decision we intend to review our current policy and practice by
consulting publicly and internally on the issues raised in this
document. We welcome views from everyone with an interest in the
topic. This document will be widely circulated.

The consultation paper
The consultation paper is available online in this section or to
download / save in Adobe Acrobat PDF
The consultation paper
http://www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/dv_paper.html
The consultation paper PDF
http://www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/dv_paper.pdf

How to respond

We welcome written and electronic responses to the consultation,
especially, but not exclusively, to the questions set out in the
response document, which is available to download below in Word.

Consultation questions response sheet
http://www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/dv_response.doc

Please feel free to provide comments on additional sheets of paper if
there is not sufficient space.

Please include your name, organisation (if any), postal address and
email address.
Closing date for responses: 29 October 2008

Responses can be sent by post to:
Domestic Violence Consultation
Crown Prosecution Service
Policy Directorate
50 Ludgate Hill
London EC4M 7EX
or by e-mail to: dvpolicy.consultation at cps.gsi.gov.uk

Alternative formats

If you require a copy of this consultation paper in another format
e.g. audio, large print or Braille, you should also contact the
address above.

Responses: Confidentiality & disclaimer

The information you send us may be passed to colleagues within the
CPS, the Government or related agencies. Furthermore, information
provided in response to this consultation, including personal
information, may be published or disclosed in accordance with the
access to information legislation (these are the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and
the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

If you want the information that you provide to be treated as
confidential, please be aware that, under FOIA, there is a statutory
Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which
deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view
of this it would be helpful if you could briefly explain to us why you
regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we
receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take full
account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that
confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic
confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be
regarded as binding on the CPS.

Please ensure your response is marked clearly if you wish your
response and name to be kept confidential.

Confidential responses will be included in any statistical summary of
numbers of comments received and views expressed.

The CPS will process your personal data in accordance with the Data
Protection Act - in the majority of circumstances this will mean that
your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties.

Next steps

A summary of the consultation responses will be published on this
website within three weeks of the close of the consultation exercise.
The documents will be drawn to the attention of everyone who responds
to the consultation. These responses will inform the CPS public policy
statement on prosecuting cases of domestic violence.

http://www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/dv_index.html