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A University of Leicester-led study has unearthed critical factors delaying the progression of criminal cases from police investigations to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for charging decisions in England and Wales.
Analysis of more than a thousand criminal case files focusing on violence against the person offences submitted to the CPS by four territorial police forces in England and Wales found that, on average, it takes 113 days to charge a suspect after a crime has been recorded.
Furthermore, it took 177 days on average to drop a case when no further action is needed.
University of Leicester researchers also conducted interviews with 55 police and CPS staff and highlighted poor communication, low morale and incomplete case files as significant factors that are leading to charging delays.
Almost half (46%) of initial submissions to the CPS for a charging decision were returned to police requiring further action. Across all cases, one action plan added 51 days to the length of a case.
In 16% of cases, they were returned by the CPS twice, adding an average of 72 days to a case's length.
Interviews with police officers acknowledged that time pressures could result in poor-quality or rushed investigations, increasing the likelihood that CPS submissions will be returned.
Interviews with police and the CPS also suggested that an inexperienced police workforce was a key factor affecting case building and file quality.
Lack of explanation from the CPS as to the relevance or importance of further police action has been found to disincentivise police, leading to the partial or non-completion of CPS action plans.
The increase in digital evidence used in investigations can also generate resource pressures and lead to further delays, along with 'multi-handed' cases which involve multiple suspects and victims.
The research was carried out by University of Leicester criminologists, Professor Matt Hopkins, Dr Tammy Ayres and Dr Sarah Hodgkinson and Professor of Law at Loughborough University, Dr Mandy Burton. The report in full can be accessed here.
Dr Matt Hopkins said: "This work is a crucial step forward in understanding the factors that lead to charging delays and can often lead to victims withdrawing their support. Further action to increase the speed of progression should focus on building early investigative advice provided by CPS lawyers to the police investigators into cases".
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