NEARLY every case which went before magistrates courts in Bury last year led to a conviction.

The rate was 98.08 per cent and now the Crown Prosecution Service has pledged to improve efficiency even further, with emphasis on reducing delays.

These are frustrating to all and a waste of scarce resources, it is said.

The first-ever annual report from the Rochdale/Bury branch of the CPS has been welcomed by branch crown prosecutor Mr Tom Morton. He was in charge of prosecuting crime during the period. Last year, finalised cases involving defendants whose cases were received by the CPS from the police totalled 10,860.

The highest case category in 1996 was "summary": cases which can be tried only in the magistrates courts.

Of the 98 per cent of cases which resulted in conviction, a little more than 84 per cent involved guilty pleas, followed by proofs in absence (nearly nine per cent) and convictions after trial (just more than five per cent). Only 1.92 per cent of cases were dismissed.

The report says: "We share the public concern that criminals should be prosecuted successfully. The branch has been working hard, together with the police and other agencies, to improve the performance across the whole of the criminal justice system.

"This has been achieved at a time of increasing pressure on our resources."

Rochdale/Bury CPS is dealing with cases more quickly than in 1994-95 and maintaining its high conviction rate.

Initiatives undertaken during 1996 included negotiations with courts and court-users to improve the quality of justice locally, talks to schools and other groups, and monitoring domestic violence cases to ensure they are handled sensitively and expediently.

The report concludes: "The initiatives and other actions already taken underline our determination to continue to improve the performance of the branch. These efforts to raise standards and the public's awareness of our work will form an essential part of our future strategy."

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