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Warning to prosecutors after MP Nigel Evans case Alison Saunders: CPS 'was right to take Evans case to court'
(about 2 hours later)
The Crown Prosecution Service needs to "keep a cool head" in investigations of historic abuse cases, a former director of public prosecutions has warned. The director of public prosecutions has said the Crown Prosecution Service was right to take the Nigel Evans sex abuse case to court.
Prosecutors "on a mission" to pursue famous people could lose perspective, Lord Macdonald told the Times. Alison Saunders said the CPS was not "on a mission" to pursue famous people and insisted it would not "shy away" from difficult cases.
The peer made his comments after former Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans was cleared of a series of sexual offences. Former Commons deputy speaker Mr Evans was cleared of nine sex abuse charges.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said the CPS would not "shy away from prosecuting difficult cases". Calls have since been made for a review of some judicial processes, with claims his case should not have gone to court.
Commons staff Former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald warned that prosecutors needed to "keep a cool head" in investigations of historical abuse cases.
Lord Macdonald did not comment directly on the Nigel Evans case. 'Star-struck'
Without commenting directly on Mr Evans's case, he told the Times that prosecutors "on a mission" to pursue famous people "could lose perspective".
But Ms Saunders rejected suggestions the CPS was "star-struck".
She told the BBC: "We apply the same test no matter who the offender or the victim is, and it's very important that we do that.
"So I certainly don't think that the CPS has been star-struck in any way."
She said she would look at the Evans case to see if lessons could be learned - as was normal with all acquittals - but she rejected any widespread change to CPS procedures in such cases.
"I think we made the right decision in taking it before the court," Ms Saunders said.
"We looked at all the evidence and decided there was a realistic prospect of conviction. And what we have to remember is that juries apply a very different, much higher test which is, are they satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt?"
She insisted the CPS would continue to take difficult cases to court provided they satisfied its test.
'Losing perspective'
Her comments followed Lord Macdonald's warning that the CPS needed to avoid losing perspective when dealing with famous people, particularly with historical cases that had received a lot of publicity.
"We don't want prosecutors only to bring sure-fire winners. That way lots of guilty people would never be taken to court," he said."We don't want prosecutors only to bring sure-fire winners. That way lots of guilty people would never be taken to court," he said.
"The more challenging cases need to be prosecuted too, so that the courts can decide."The more challenging cases need to be prosecuted too, so that the courts can decide.
"What the CPS needs to avoid, however, is going on a mission and losing perspective."What the CPS needs to avoid, however, is going on a mission and losing perspective.
"This particularly applies to historical cases which have garnered a lot of publicity. You have to keep a cool head.""This particularly applies to historical cases which have garnered a lot of publicity. You have to keep a cool head."
The CPS maintained it was right that all the evidence in the case of Mr Evans was put before a jury, but added that it respected the court's decision to clear him of all the charges. The CPS has maintained it was right that all the evidence in the case of Mr Evans was put before a jury, but added that it respected the court's decision to clear him of all the charges.
Some MPs have criticised the CPS and police after the acquittal of Mr Evans. But some MPs have criticised the CPS and police after Mr Evans's acquittal.
Failing victims
But Director of Public Prosecutions Ms Saunders told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the CPS was "absolutely" right to take the case to trial.
"Our test is to make sure there is a realistic prospect of conviction," she said.
"We would be failing victims if we didn't apply that test across the board with the same standard, no matter who the alleged offender is and if the test is satisfied we take that case to court.
"Of course what the jury then does is apply a very different, much higher test which is Are they satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt?"
Ms Saunders said the CPS would review Mr Evans's case, but she ruled out conducting a review of the prosecution system on a "general basis", saying: "I think if we are applying the test that's absolutely right."
She added that the CPS must not "shy away" from taking difficult cases to court.
'Serious concerns'
"I think we have to be very careful to make the distinction between difficult cases which rightly go before a court, and cases which are weak, which we should not be putting before a court, which would not pass our test," she said.
Conservative MP David Davis, a former shadow home secretary, called for an urgent review, saying there was "a risk of a serious injustice" under the current system.Conservative MP David Davis, a former shadow home secretary, called for an urgent review, saying there was "a risk of a serious injustice" under the current system.
Mr Davis said: "This case has highlighted serious concerns over how the police and the Crown Prosecution Service bring sexual offence cases to court.Mr Davis said: "This case has highlighted serious concerns over how the police and the Crown Prosecution Service bring sexual offence cases to court.
"In particular we must now review the process whereby the police and the Crown Prosecution Service put together a large number of lesser, subsidiary cases in order to reinforce one serious case when prosecuting sexual offences."In particular we must now review the process whereby the police and the Crown Prosecution Service put together a large number of lesser, subsidiary cases in order to reinforce one serious case when prosecuting sexual offences.
"It is clear from the way that this case proceeded that there is a risk of a serious injustice being done to an innocent man, and I would call on the attorney general to urgently review this issue.""It is clear from the way that this case proceeded that there is a risk of a serious injustice being done to an innocent man, and I would call on the attorney general to urgently review this issue."
'Failing victims'
Ms Saunders told the BBC that the CPS prosecutes more than 730,000 cases each year and has a conviction rate of 86%.
She said the same test was applied to all cases across the board.
"If a case satisfies the evidential test and it's in the public interest to prosecute it, we will prosecute," Ms Saunders said.
"And it would be wrong and we would be rightly criticised if we didn't take cases just because we were being overly cautious and we would be failing in our duty to victims and society."
Mr Evans was cleared of a string of sex abuse charges, including one of rape.Mr Evans was cleared of a string of sex abuse charges, including one of rape.
The rape claim was among several allegations made by seven men during a five-week trial at Preston Crown Court.The rape claim was among several allegations made by seven men during a five-week trial at Preston Crown Court.
Mr Evans was said to have used his political influence to take advantage of his alleged victims but the defence pointed out inconsistencies in various witness accounts.Mr Evans was said to have used his political influence to take advantage of his alleged victims but the defence pointed out inconsistencies in various witness accounts.
The former Conservative MP, 56, currently sits as an independent for Ribble Valley.The former Conservative MP, 56, currently sits as an independent for Ribble Valley.