The Attorney General’s Chambers ongoing changes are improving prosecution services, particularly in handling sexual offences.
Director of Prosecutions Chrissie Hunter outlined the reforms during a Constitutional, Legal Affairs, and Justice Committee sitting this week.
Ms Hunter highlighted the adoption of updated prosecutorial practices following the introduction of new sexual offence legislation.
She said: “Previously, we were labouring under some quite elderly legislation in terms of sexual offending, and certainly we have seen a significant increase in our work, because clearly, a lot more things are an offence.”
Ms Hunter also noted that stricter liability laws for child-related offences have broadened prosecutorial responsibilities.
She added that a change in emphasis on how cases are reviewed has put the emphasis on building a case rather than questioning the victim and, in Ms Hunters’ example, “why didn’t she shout, why didn’t she do this, and why didn’t she do that”.
“It was very victim focused, really, but entirely in the wrong way. In my respectful view.
“We are a much more defendant focused operating model now, in terms of myths and stereotypes are rejected right the way down the line. “
Training
Ms Hunter told the committee that the division’s ongoing adoption of Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) principles, based on best practices from the UK Crown Prosecution Service, is already yielding results.
This has seen “positive outcomes in sexual offence cases” rising from 34% to 62% in the past year, which she said was in part due to better case handling and enhanced collaboration with law enforcement.
Distancing
Ms Hunter also detailed the ongoing structural changes aimed at increasing operational independence for the prosecution division.
This includes the establishment of a separate financial crime unit and plans for a “distancing” arrangement from the Attorney General’s direct oversight, pending new legislation.
Attorney General Walter Wannenburgh, who also appeared before the committee, praised Ms Hunter and her team’s efforts, while further explaining the distancing within the AG’s Chambers.
He said: “It’s more of a distancing of the relationship between the crown.
“It is a further distancing. Because even at the moment, and it has been the case since I’ve been in post, that in reality, the director operates independently already, except in so far as there may be some infrequent referrals to me by her.
“So we have almost an operational independence in existence at the moment, and if anything, we’ll be building upon that.”
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