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Solicitor-General

Answer

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will review the decisions taken by the Crown Prosecution Service following the fatal attack on Jay Abatan in Brighton in January 1999, following the findings of the review by Essex police into the handling of the case in Sussex. [157143] The Solicitor-General: The aim of review by the Essex police into the fatal attack on Jay Abatan was to examine the conduct of the investigation by Sussex police officers. The review was commissioned by the Sussex police. The Crown Prosecution Service in Sussex has not yet received a copy of the review but remain willing to consider any findings relating to the way the CPS dealt with the prosecution of the case. I explained in a detailed written answer on 24 May 2000, Official Report, columns 528-31W, when responding to a question put down by the hon. Member, that the decisions made by the Sussex Crown Prosecution Service were entirely satisfactory, given the evidence produced by the initial police investigation. I am willing to reconsider that conclusion in the light of any findings of the review. Sussex police have appointed a new investigation team. Consistent with this fresh start, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Sussex made arrangements for a senior lawyer from Hampshire Crown Prosecution Service to deal with any prosecution which may result from the new investigation.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

157143; 366 c492W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Death Crimes of violence Racial violence Reviews Essex Police Sussex Police Brighton Abatan, Jay

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk