Private prosecution safeguards essential to avoid further miscarriages of justice
08 May 2025
Less than 1 minute read
News
Safeguards for private prosecutions are urgently needed to avoid a repeat of the Post Office scandal, says the Law Society of England and Wales. The Law Society has today submitted its response to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) consultation on oversight and regulation of private prosecutors in the criminal justice system.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The Post Office Horizon scandal, which led to hundreds of wrongful convictions, has highlighted that private prosecutions should be undertaken in the public interest, not the prosecuting organisation’s interest. Such miscarriages of justice must not be repeated.
“Proposals to increase safeguards and introduce accreditations, as well as a system which makes sure that standards are met is welcome. This will help to ensure access to justice and better protections for the public.
“We also support aligning private prosecutors with the standards of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), with a new code of practice and appropriate oversight and inspection. A new register of prosecutors and prosecutions would provide much needed transparency.
“These MoJ proposals are high level. We look forward to seeing more detailed proposals and commenting further, particularly around any consequences for the profession and the public.”
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.