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Sometimes, when we discuss the future of public services, we need the occasional reality check. For me, that came with a recent report into the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London. The report from Stephen Wooler, chief inspector of the CPS, didn't mince his words. Too many cases were collapsing because of poor preparation and other flaws. As a resident of Lewisham, it was especially worrying to know that the performance of the CPS there was listed as ‘poor', together with five other London boroughs. In fact, none of the CPS teams in London boroughs were listed as ‘good' or ‘excellent'. Compare that to the record of London local government with more ‘excellent' performing authorities than the rest of the country. Now, you don't need a seminar from Ipsos MORI to appreciate that crime is right at the top of residents' concerns. Yet we have a service – and the record of the Probation Service is little better – absolutely critical to community safety which has an appalling performance record. Nicholas Boles, the thoughtful former chief executive of Policy Exchange – and PPC for the safe Tory seat of Grantham – observed that the CPS should one of the first public services to be brought under local control of councils. Excellent-performing councils would be able to drive up performance standards in the CPS with little difficulty. If we want to restore public confidence in the criminal justice service, we need to provide a local accountability framework which allows the public – and magistrates – to have speedy redress for poor service. So, if we want to ensure that criminal prosecution becomes a political priority, we need to make the link with local democracy more explicit. Paul Wheeler is director of the Political Skills Forum

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WHITEHALL

Soap Box

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