Justice ministry reviews new procedures for police and prosecutors
Officers and prosecutors examined proposed regional standard operating procedures meant to stop cases running into trouble before they reach court.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts. Police officers and prosecutors have reviewed proposed regional standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed to improve how criminal cases are prepared and taken to court.
The workshop, hosted on Tuesday at the Royal St Kitts Hotel by the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, brought together members of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It was supported by the UN Development Programme's PACE Justice Project and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The SOPs cover early involvement of prosecutors, evidence management, preparation of case files, charging decisions, trial preparation and follow-up after trial. They were drafted as part of the European Union-funded PACE Justice Programme.
Attorney General Garth Wilkin said many cases run into difficulty well before they reach a courtroom.
"These are familiar problems," the Attorney General said.
Officials are now assessing which parts of the procedures can be applied under national law and which need adjusting. Feedback from the workshop will inform the final version.
