THE JOINT INSPECTION cpsi OF THE H M Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate DEVON AND CORNWALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AREA ON-SITE SEPTEMBER 2006 FEBRUARY 2007 HM Inspectorate of Court Administration THE JOINT INSPECTION cpsi OF THE H M Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate DEVON AND CORNWALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AREA ON-SITE SEPTEMBER 2006 FEBRUARY 2007 HM Inspectorate of Court Administration THE JOINT INSPECTION OF THE DEVON AND CORNWALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AREA ON-SITE SEPTEMBER 2006 FEBRUARY 2007 The Joint Inspection Report on the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice Area The Joint Inspection Report on the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice Area CONTENTS Preface 1. Introduction . .1 Devon, Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly . 1 Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice Board. 1 Scope of inspection . 2 Methodology . 2 Structure of the report. 3 2. Executive Summary . .5 Overview. 5 Public confidence and community engagement . 6 Bringing offenders to justice . 6 Reducing ineffective trials. 7 The treatment of victims and witnesses. 8 The treatment of defendants . 8 The enforcement of community sentences . 8 Key performance results. 9 3. The governance and structure of the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice Board . 13 Overview. 13 Governance. 13 Structure . 15 Strategic plan and direction . 16 Accountability . 16 The criminal justice office. 18 4. Improving public confidence and community engagement . 19 Overview. 19 Improving public confidence. 19 Equality and diversity . 20 Strategic partnerships . 21 5. Bringing offenders to justice. .23 Overview. 23 Offences brought to justice . 23 Pre-charge advice and decision-making scheme . 25 The structure of the statutory charging scheme . 25 The operation of the scheme . 26 Case management . 28 Realising the benefits . 29 Specialist and sensitive casework . 30 Domestic violence/domestic abuse. 31 The Joint Inspection Report on the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice Area Child abuse . 32 Racially and religiously aggravated offences . 33 Young offenders. 33 Asset recovery . 34 Persistent and priority offending. 35 6. Reducing the level of ineffective trials . .37 Overview. 37 Ineffective and effective trial performance. 37 The treatment of victims and witnesses. 37 Preparing for effective hearings . 37 Trial management . 40 Case progression . 41 Effective trial performance: Crown Court . 42 Effective trial performance: magistrates’ courts. 42 Witness Care Units . 43 Treatment of victims and witnesses. 44 7. The treatment and rights of defendants . .47 Overview. 47 The rights of defendants. 47 Strategic issues . 47 Custody facilities . 47 Prisoner availability . ..