THE Crown Prosecution Service in Kent has been ranked as ‘fair’ for the second year in a row.

The service, which is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by police, maintained the same overall rating for 2006/07 that it achieved from the HM Crown Prosecution service Inspectorate (HMCPsI) in 2005/06, in its most recent performance assessment.

The report found while the service was good or excellent in some areas, improvements needed to be made in others, such as building public confidence in the system and supporting witnesses before and after cases are heard.

Stephen Wooler CB, HM Chief Inspector of HMCPSI, said: “CPS Kent’s overall conviction rates have improved and the overall outcomes in the magistrates’ courts and for hate crime cases was excellent in 2006-07.

“(But) it needs to strengthen its pre-charge decision making and improve its service to victims and witnesses by addressing problems in relation to the lack of dedicated witness care units and by ensuring that letters are sent to victims in all appropriate cases.

“I am confident that senior managers have the commitment to bring about improvement, particularly in those aspects of work which have fallen off”.