TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1980
ON QUALIFICATION TO JOIN AS LAY PROSECUTORS, MR DUNCAN SAID APPLICANTS SHOULD BE EITHER MATRICULANTS OR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE HOLDERS WITH AT LEAST THREE YEARS OF APPROPRIATE LEGAL EXPERIENCE. BUT THE CHALLENGING NATURE OF THE WORK HAS ATTRACTED QUITE A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITY GRADUATES,+ HE ADDED.
THERE ARE NOW TWO CROWN COUNSEL ENGAGED FULL-TIME IN CONDUCTING THE TRAINING COURSE WHICH INCLUDES COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL LAW, ADVOCACY, LAW OF EVIDENCE AND COURT PROCEDURES.
RECRUITS ARE TAKEN ON FAMILIARISATION VISITS TO COURTS AND POLICE STATIONS. THEY ALSO PRACTISE THEIR SKILLS THROUGH MOCK TRIALS.
+THE LAY PROSECUTORS USUALLY HANDLE ALL SORTS OF CASES IN THE MAGISTRACIES SUCH AS TRAFFIC OFFENCES, WOUNDING, ASSAULT, ROBBERY, THEFT AND SO ON, MR DUNCAN SAID, BUT THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIGN CROWN COUNSEL TO PROSECUTE IN SERIOUS AND MORE COMPLICATED CASES.+
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE LAY PROSECUTORS WILL TAKE OVER ALL PROSECUTION WORK IN MAGISTRACIES FROM THE POLICE IN A FEW YEARS' TIME. MEANWHILE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO RECRUIT ANOTHER 18 PEOPLE TO TAKE UP THE JOBS.
FEES FOR CARE OF ELDERLY UNDER STUDY
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IN ADVISING ON FEE ADJUSTMENTS FOR OLD PEOPLE'S INSTITUTIONS, HAS NOT PROPOSED ANY RADICAL CHANGES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSED FEE ADJUSTMENTS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE WITHIN THE GENERAL MEANS OF THE ELDERLY IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE.
HE SAID THE MAJORITY OF THE OLD PEOPLE IN INSTITUTIONS RECEIVED SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS WHICH MORE THAN ADEQUATELY COVERED THE IR ESSENTIAL NEEDS.
SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT RATES, HE ADDED, ARE REVIEWED FROM TIME TO TIME AND REVISED WHERE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THEIR REAL PURCHASING VALUE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A WORKING GROUP FORMED UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SWAC) WAS NOW STUDYING WHETHER THERE WAS EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CLAIMS THAT THE PROPOSED FEE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD CAUSE HARDSHIP,
+PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE STUDY, AND THE ADVICE OF THE SWAC ON THE MATTER, THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT INSISTED ON THE NEW FEES BEING LEVIED IN ANY OF THE OLD PEOPLE'S INSTITUTIONS ALTHOUGH 12 INSTITUTIONS HAVE ALREADY SEEN FIT TO ADJUST THEIR FEES,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT WILL ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUAL HARDSHIP CASES, IF ANY, WILL BE ADEQUATELY LOOKED AFTER.
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