TNAG-1581-FCO40-2155-Hong-Kong-Commercial-Crimes-Bill-1986 — Page 20

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RIGHT OF 'STAND BY FOR THE CROWN' SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED. EITHER

SIDE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE FOR CAUSE.

ONCE THE CASE PROPER BEGINS, THE COMMITTEE FAVOURS THE

INCREASED USE OF WRITTEN SUMMARIES BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO THE

JURY, AND VISUAL AIDS.

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A CONSIDERABLE CHANGE IN THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND

WORKING PRACTICES OF ALL CONCERNED WITH CRIMINAL FRAUD CASES

POLICE, LAWYERS, JUDGES AND COURT ADMINISTRATORS ALIKE WOULD BE

REQUIRED.

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HOWEVER, IT

THE COMMITTEE WELCOMES THE CLOSER COLLABORATION BETWEEN

THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES WHICH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A

PERMANENT FRAUD INVESTIGATION GROUP HAS INITIATED.

THINKS THAT THE NEED FOR A NEW UNIFIED ORGANISATION RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF DETECTION, INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION

OF SERIOUS FRAUD SHOULD BE EXAMINED FORTHWITH.

AN INDEPENDENT MONITORING BODY (THE 'FRAUD COMMISSION')

SHOULD BE NOMINATED WHICH SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDYING AND

ADVISING FROM YEAR TO YEAR ON THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH FRAUD

CASES ARE CONDUCTED.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

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THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SET UP THE FRAUD TRIALS COMMITTEE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF LORD ROSKILL, WAS ANNOUNCED ON 8 NOVEMBER 1983, AND FOLLOWED GROWING CONCERN ABOUT THE

PRESENT METHODS OF COMBATTING SERIOUS COMMERCIAL FRAUD. THE

COMMITTEE AN INDEPENDENT BODY SET UP JOINTLY BY THE LORD

CHANCELLOR AND THE HOME SECRETARY (NEXT 5 WORDS UNDERLINED)

BEGAN WORK IN APRIL 1984. ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE WERE: 'TO

CONSIDER IN WHAT WAYS THE CONDUCT OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IN

ENGLAND AND WALES ARISING FROM FRAUD CAN BE IMPROVED, AND TO

CONSIDER WHAT CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW AND PROCEDURE WOULD BE

DESIRABLE TO SECURE THE JUST, EXPEDITIOUS AND ECONOMICAL DISPOSAL

OF SUCH PROCEEDINGS.'

THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE LORD ROSKILL (CHAIRMAN),

LORD BENSON, MR DAVID BUTLER, SIR JAMES CRANE, JUDGE JOHN HAZAN,

2.

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