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5. OUR CONCERN IS REFLECTED IN A PILOT SCHEME (NOW AT THE END
OF ITS TRIAL PERIOD) TO REPLACE POLICE PROSECUTORS IN MAGISTRATES
COURTS BY LAY PROSECUTORS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED LAWYERS
BUT WHO RECEIVE TRAINING IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THIS SCHEME INTERPOSES INDEPENDENT PROSECUTORS WORKING FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COURTS. THE PILOT SCHEME HAS BEEN A SUCCESS AND WELCOMED BY MAGISTRATES.
WE SHALL BE SEEKING FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHEME SHORTLY.
6. SECONDLY, WE ARE ABOUT TO SEEK FUNDS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE (FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE) TO START A DUTY-LAWYER SCHEME IN THREE MAGISTRACIES INITIALLY. UNDER THIS SCHEME, A LAWYER FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL BE AT EACH MAGISTRACY EACH DAY TO ADVISE DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH THOSE OFFENCES WHICH IN OUR VIEW PRESENT THE GREATEST RISK OF ABUSE - LOITERING, MEMBERSHIP OF AN UNLAWFUL SOCIETY, UNLAWFUL POSSESSION
CONTRARY TO SECTION 30 OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE, OBSTRUCTION OF A POLICE OFFICER AND RESISTING ARREST, AND SIMPLE POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS. WE HAVE HIGH HOPES OF THIS SCHEME. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT MUST INITIALLY BE LIMITED TO THREE OF THE EIGHT MAGISTRACIES (EACH OF WHICH CONTAINS A NUMBER OF COURTS) BUT THE CLEAR ADVICE IS THAT THIS IS THE LIMIT TO WHICH THE LEGAL PROFESSION'S RESOURCES WILL GO. WE SHALL SEND YOU A COPY OF THE REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHICH WORKED OUT DETAILS OF THE SCHEME.
7. MRS ELLIOTT'S COMMENTS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE UMELCO
COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE GROUP IN THE INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE ARE UNJUST. THEIR CLOSER INVOLVEMENT
SINCE OCTOBER LAST YEAR HAS HAD A VALUABLE EFFECT AND THE FULL BENEFITS WILL INCREASE AS TIME GOES ON.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HRC GD (6)
OPA
LEGAL ADVISERS
iPD
NEWS D
MR MURRAY
2
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