Skip to main content

Martin Allen

Volume 454: debated on Monday 11 December 2006

To ask the Solicitor-General when a decision is expected in respect of the police report submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in the case of Martin Allen. (107894)

An Advice file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) inSeptember 2005. As a result an extensive and complex investigation has been conducted by the Metropolitan police. As the case is on-going I am unable to go into the details of those enquiries at this stage.

In giving a charging decision, the CPS must consider whether or not there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to commence a prosecution. The CPS has asked that they be provided with further material they consider essential prior to reaching a fully informed decision in this case. I regret that it is not possible to estimate when the CPS will be in a position to make a final charging decision, although they are fully aware of the necessity to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.