The role of the Crown Prosecution Service

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:30 in Discussion Forums

Where: St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Rd Bristol, BS2 9TJ
Date: 30th April 2013
Time: 12:30
With: Barry Hughes,Chief Crown Prosecutor

Abstract

Barry Hughes will explain the role of the CPS in today’s criminal justice system and highlight some recent and likely changes to the our role and the way we work. He will also outline challenges facing the criminal justice system.

He will discuss the CPS and the wider criminal justice system’s role in bringing crimes to justice which represent a threat to individual rights to freedom and safety - or a threat to community cohesion. These crimes include what are referred to as ‘hate crimes’ - crimes motivated by prejudice and hatred in relation to nationality, race, religion, sexuality or disability, for example. He will outline the importance of partnership working and effective community relationships in tackling and preventing such crimes.

Biography of Barry Hughes

Barry Hughes is from Liverpool and studied law at Sheffield University before joining the newly formed Crown Prosecution Service in 1986 as a Crown Prosecutor in North London. In 1996 Barry was promoted to the post of Assistant Chief Crown Prosecutor for London and appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor for Cheshire in 1999. In 2004 he was appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Direct and set up the CPS service which provides charging advice outside normal working hours across England and Wales. In 2007 Barry was appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor for Avon and Somerset. Following a CPS restructure in April 2011, Barry became Chief Crown prosecutor for the South West, with ultimate responsibility for all criminal prosecutions in Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall and Avon and Somerset. He is married with two children and lives near Bath.