Niall Hearty assesses HMCPSI’s criticisms of the Serious Fraud Office for Lawyer Monthly

A report from the HMCPSI (HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate) found that the Serious Fraud Office was slow to respond to complaints and kept inadequate records of disputes.

Rahman Ravelli Legal Director Niall Hearty wrote an article that examined the HMCPSI criticisms of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

In his piece, Niall details the problem areas identified by Inspectorate. He argues that while the report does say the general standard of investigation was good, it will not win over those who believe the SFO creates its own problems.

He backs up this argument by referring to the report’s highlighting of the shortcomings in the SFO’s procedure for dealing with complaints. Pointing out the damage that this does to the reputation of both the agency and the criminal justice system as a whole, Niall emphasises the importance of a prompt response to complaints at a time when there are problems relating to a backlog of Crown Court trials.

With previous HMCPSI reports having criticised the SFO’s approach to management and the slow progress of cases, Niall outlines why it is vital for the agency to address problems as they arise.

Niall's article featured in Lawyer Monthly.