To ask the Solicitor-General how many days on average were taken by the Crown Prosecution Service in each area to provide advice to the police on charges for offences of (a) rape, (b) domestic violence and (c) violent crime in the latest period for which figures are available. (312879)

CPS data captured on its case management system (CMS) show that for the 12-month period from January 2009 to December 2009:

the average number of calendar days taken to reach the decision to charge in rape cases was 27.1 days

the average number of calendar days taken to reach the decision to charge in domestic violence cases was 4.7 days

the average number of calendar days taken to reach the decision to charge in all cases was 8.3 days

Whereas it is possible to disaggregate pre-charge decision data in rape and domestic violence cases, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of pre-charge decision data for violent crime as a discrete offence category from within CMS. These data could only be obtained by analysis of case files at disproportionate cost.

Under Statutory Charging arrangements the police refer cases to the CPS for investigative advice or a charging decision. In cases where a file is submitted to the CPS for advice or where there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge at the first referral, the prosecutor will advise the police officer on the further evidence to be gathered. Once this further evidence has been gathered the officer will return the case to the CPS in order for a charging decision to be made.

CMS data reports the average number of calendar days that has elapsed since the first decision was sought from the police, to the date in which the last decision made was to charge or proceed to some other outcome. The CMS last decision made reports include all cases where a decision to charge was made on the same day as the request from the police, either by CPS Direct (an out of hours telephone service); by way of face to face advice; or by local telephone advice. They also include all those cases where the police were required to submit further evidence prior to a decision to charge being made; and those more complex cases where detailed written advice was provided to the police

The system is unable to separately record the timeliness of those cases that were subject to advice and further work before a charge decision was made and recorded as the last decision.

A breakdown of the figures for each area has been deposited in the Library of the House.