DPP warns cops about late files

DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson has issued tough new guidelines to police officers which stipulate a strict time frame for submission of files to his office. In an April 8 letter, Henderson said it had become necessary to issue guidelines because prosecuting attorneys have repeatedly found themselves embarrassed when files have not been submitted on time. The DPP said an inordinate amount of time elapses between the date of the first hearing of criminal matters, and the date the file is submitted to the office of the DPP.

He also complained of an unreasonable time between the date files are received and the next date of hearing. Henderson is also insisting that police officers must commence the preparation of a prosecution file as soon as a suspect is charged or information laid. He also stipulated that all files submitted by the police contain key witness statements, caution statements, short descriptive notes of interview, relevant diary extracts, a post mortem certificate/report and a copy of the information. The DPP’s new guidelines make it mandatory that a full file must be submitted to his office within one month of the date of the offence. He said a full file will not be accepted by the Office of the DPP if the next date of hearing is less than seven days from the date the file is submitted. Henderson said the guidelines were developed to ensure expeditious hearing and determination of matters.