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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - The Office of Public Prosecution is
expected to be significantly strengthened by the establishment of a
fully-fledged Crown Prosecution Service, which will fall under the jurisdiction
of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony made the announcement during the opening
of the Vieux Fort Police Station and Southern Division Headquarters on Friday,
September 24th, 2004. The Crown Prosecution Service, which forms part of
Cabinet’s efforts to enforce the prosecutorial and investigation process, will
be implemented in three phases.
The first phase of the Crown Prosecution Service, which will come into effect
between October 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005 will bring on board, an additional
compliment of personnel. According to Dr. Anthony, there will be “an increase in
the number of Crown Counsels at the first judicial district from 2 to 4; the
assignment of all police prosecutors in the first judicial district to the Crown
Prosecutors Service; and all police officers who are prosecutors will now be
shifted from the police to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to
manage public prosecution cases.”
The first phase of the Crown Prosecution Service will also see the appointment
and financing of two Secretaries and two Clerk/Typists, two Process Servers, one
Clerk and one Receptionist.
Dr. Anthony also indicated that the process would be extended to the south of
the island: “The second phase commences in April 2005, and will see the creation
and financing of one office administrator, an increase in crown counsels from 4
to 6, an information technology unit, a Law Library, the establishment of a
branch in the Second Judicial District in Vieux Fort, and the appointment of two
crown counsels based in the south.
The final phase of the project will see a total of eight crown counsels in the
First Judicial District and two crown counsels in the Second Judicial District
court.
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