DPP and Cash for Honours Ken Macdonald is happy to consult attorney general Goldsmith on any decisions relating to a prosecution in the cash for honours inquiry, but insists the decision will be made at the CPS, by Carmen Dowd 27.03.07 Times, Cash for Honours, Ken Macdonald, Legal People

Law Before Loyalty - Debate on Goldsmith Attorney General Goldsmith defends his role, including attendance at Cabinet, some decisions will always be controversial Telegraph Secretary for constitutional affairs Lord Falconer has called for debate on role on role of attorney general ePolitix I put law before loyalty 12.03.07 Telegraph, Constitutional Reform

Goldsmith Wants to Close SFO Attorney General Goldsmith wants to close down the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), transfer tasks to Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and send lawyers to work in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) 23.02.07 Guardian, Criminal Justice, Fraud

DPP Affair Is Private Matter DPP Ken Macdonald insists his affair with barrister Kirsty Brimelow is private matter, supported by AG Goldsmith, CPS says impossible to say if chambers of Andrew Trollope QC, where Ms Brimelow is a tenant, have been favoured Telegraph Complaints about DPP would go through head of Civil Service 14.02.07 Daily Mail, Ken Macdonald, Legal People

Failure to Implement Rape Reforms Police and CPS are failing to implement reforms in bringing rape cases to trial, conviction rates remain low, joint report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) 31.01.07 BBC, Criminal Justice, Criminal Sentencing, Sex Offences

High Cost of Delays, Mistakes Total cost of delays and errors at magistrates courts put at £173m, police and CPS directly account for £55m 19.10.06 Times, Courts, Criminal Justice

CPS Pay Reform Chief prosecutors will get bonuses up to 15% based on trial performance, pay structure to move from seniority to skills and outcomes 06.03.06 Times

CPS Waste NAO says £55m a year wasted by CPS in lower courts on ineffective hearings, total cost for delays £178m, 15.02.06 BBC, Courts, Criminal Justice

Postcode Justice CPS performance highly variable according to region, Warwickshire best record, over a third of murder cases in London fail Times Frances Gibb - reform necessary if CPS is to step up to expanded role 23.11.05 Times, Criminal Justice Links

CPS Reform Prosecutors insist the new system is working well, CPS lawyers are the right people to decide on criminal charges, dangerous criminals are taken swiftly from the street .And new recruits are queuing up. 24.05.05 Times