Almost half of the letters dispatched by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to individuals, including crime victims, are substandard. Many of these letters contain errors, misspellings, or lack information about delays, as revealed by a recent official report.
The CPS watchdog has called on the institution to promptly address these issues, emphasising that such errors erode public trust. The report indicates that the quality of letters has seen a decline since the last assessment in 2018. Out of 351 letters from the CPS to complainants, only 66 were deemed “good quality”. Approximately 32% were “adequate”, and a concerning 49% didn’t meet the expected standard.
Comparatively, a 2018 thematic inspection found that nearly 75% of letters were below the desired standard. Although there’s been a slight increase in the percentage of acceptable letters, the number of high-quality letters has dropped from 25.7% to 18.8%. HMCPSI’s chief inspector, Andrew Cayley KC, commented on the lack of substantial progress.
Cayley emphasised the importance of addressing this issue, especially since many recipients are crime victims. The current state isn’t just about minor spelling errors; there are significant inadequacies that necessitate a system review.
The report also highlighted that 32.5% of responses were delayed. There were notable regional discrepancies, with the least efficient CPS area only replying to 16% of letters punctually. Moreover, the CPS often failed to inform complainants about delays or provide reasons for them.
Responding to the findings, a CPS representative acknowledged the improvements since 2018 and highlighted their strengths. They also recognised the need for further enhancements to offer the best service to victims.
Andrea Simon, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, expressed concerns about the generic nature of many CPS letters and the lack of compassion shown to recipients. Harriet Dowse-Bland, of the Centre for Women’s Justice, believes the findings might only represent a fraction of the broader issue.
Anthony Rogers, the CPS deputy chief inspector, noted an increase in empathy in letters since 2018. He believes the CPS is gradually understanding the importance of empathy and its expression.
In conclusion, Cayley believes that the best way to address a complaint is by empathising with the complainant, suggesting that the CPS still has a long journey ahead in this regard.