John Jackson argues that the Director of Public Prosecutions should have sole responsibility for making decisions to prosecute
The present debate about the role of the Attorney General in the cash for honours affair has obscured the position of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Unlike the ancient office of the Attorney General which dates back to the 13th century, the office of DPP in England and Wales was established in 1879.
The DPP was originally appointed by the Home Secretary with the duty to institute, undertake or carry on, such criminal proceedings as were provided by statute under the superintendence of the Attorney General. At first the role was limited to giving advice to the police and making decisions to prosecute in a limited number of serious offences.
From such lowly beginnings, the role has expanded considerably. Now appointed by the Attorney General, the DPP is head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the body created in 1985 to take over responsibility for prosecutions from the police. Crown prosecutors have recently been given enhanced powers to direct charges and give conditional cautions which may
