FDA
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FDA welcomes inspectorate’s report on CPS London

The FDA yesterday welcomed the report by the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, which addresses the operation of the CPS London Area.  The FDA is the union representing prosecutors and senior managers in the CPS.

Paul Whiteman, FDA national officer responsible for members in the CPS, said:

“It is regrettable that the report finds much amiss in the London Area, but the FDA is pleased that it confirms that CPS staff (FDA members) are hard-working and determined to provide a good service to Londoners. The difficulties appear to be due to ‘initiative overload’ and resourcing problems.

“For a long time the FDA has been warning about these problems. Inadequate case preparation time is just one of the symptoms of taking resources away from the front line. Our members have been overburdened - and unjustly criticised as a result - for far too long.

“The report recognises this current unacceptable situation, and Alison Saunders, the new Chief Crown Prosecutor for London , also acknowledges it. The FDA and its members will do all they can to support her and her team’s efforts to put things right, but the FDA will not shy away from defending members’  interests if things fail to improve.”

Notes for editors

1. The FDA is the trade union and professional body representing 18,000 of the ’s senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, senior managers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, special advisers, government lawyers, diplomats, crown prosecutors and NHS managers.

 

2. Members in HMRC are represented by the Association of Revenue and Customs (ARC), a section of the FDA.

 

3. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union". 

 

4. For further information contact:

 

Paul Whiteman, FDA national officer, tel: 020 7401 5555.

Oliver Rowe, Communications Manager, tel: 020 7401 5588 or 07590 838696.

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