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Metropolitan Police Review Of Sex Case Evidence

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mikey4444 | 09:37 Wed 20th Dec 2017 | News
16 Answers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42417553

"The Metropolitan Police is launching a review of all ongoing sex crime investigations, after the collapse of two rape cases in a week"

Not before time it would seem !
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what with terrorism cases they must be overloaded....
though i am glad that this is being looked into now.
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With respect Emmie, this isn't about have enough time.

Its very basic rules of evidence, something the Police shouldn't be getting wrong in the first place, it sticks of incompetence. Both the young men in these two cases could have had their lives ruined for ever......some might say that they already have....to a lesser degree.

What is needed here is what we used to call in BT, a complete "drains up" exercise.
they're blaming cuts. They may be right, I don't know, but it sounds like ineptitude to me; they ought to have standard procedures to follow.
about time too

I dont see why the police are carrying the can on this as it is the CPS that takes the decisions - and that is not a rubber stamp
Question Author
jno...they have...the are called the rules of evidence, and they have been around for a very long time.

Ineptitude doesn't even come close.
Nothing to do with cuts, not in these two cases as if anything if they bothered to look then they would have saved bucket loads of money.

I strongly suspect they feel compelled to push as many cases of rape to Court due to past vilifications and the instructions from the head of the CPS.
Question Author
YMB.....If indeed what you say is true, and the Head of the CPS has given these instructions, than we are dealing with more than a case of ineptitude and incompetence.
Both these cases were led by the same Met. DC Mark Azariah, judging by his name I think mikey might now conduct a different approach to these two cases.
"I dont see why the police are carrying the can on this as it is the CPS that takes the decisions - and that is not a rubber stamp"

You are off the mark, Peter, at least in the case of Liam Allan. The CPS make decisions based on the material they are presented with by the police. The police have a duty to hand to the CPS all material which they have gathered which may either assist the defence or undermine the prosecution (normally called "unused material"). They cannot conceal stuff which they have discovered which they think may not do their case much good. In the case of Mr Allan details of many thousands of text messages were in the possession of the police which clearly demonstrated that the alleged victim's story was a load of lies. It was the QC acting for the Crown in fact who revealed that material, brought it to the attention of the court and then offered no further evidence against Mr Allan.

This is nothing to do with so-called "cuts" or lack of resources. The officer-in-the-case was asked time and again about the material and he repeatedly responded by saying that it was of no relevance to the case. It would have been quicker (and more in line with his duty of disclosure) to simply hand it to the CPS than it would have been to respond to multiple enquiries about the same thing. His motive for acting the way he did is either that he wanted to secure a conviction at all costs (in which case he should be prosecuted for attempting to pervert the course of justice and/or misconduct in public office) or he was incredibly inept (in which case he should be sacked). There is no need for a "drains up" exercise. All police officers are (or should be) taught during basic training the rules surrounding their duty of disclosure.
//Both these cases were led by the same Met. DC Mark Azariah, judging by his name I think mikey might now conduct a different approach to these two cases. //
What are you saying AOG what is wrong with his name?
According to this there is potential for many more cases to be looked at:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5196181/Scotland-Yard-review-hundreds-rape-cases.html

In fact surely any case from this detective is now dubious and potentially needs to be quashed?
Question Author
NJ.........correct at 13:00.

I have been listening to the "World at One", and it seems that this is entirely down to the Police, not the CPS. If the Police hide or hold back evidence from the CPS, and subsequently the Courts, then this is an extremely serious matter indeed.

AOG...what on earth are you on about now ?

YMB...I agree...any case that this Officer has been involved with should be immediately looked at.

I am now unsure if the same bad practise hasn't been occurring in other Police Forces in England and Wales ?
// I strongly suspect they feel compelled to push as many cases of rape to Court due to the instructions from the head of the CPS.//

who is the DPP. and when I wrote to her ( a certain Alison Saunders) and told her what a crip idea it was she said - it is meant to work like that .....
// It was the QC acting for the Crown in fact who revealed that material, brought it to the attention of the court and then offered no further evidence against Mr Allan. //

I am nearer the mark than people think
clearly the material was known to a few people - erm Allen and his accuser for a start
so allen would know if she were pestering him

the defence had been told there was material but that is was immaterial ( pun intended) -
I had read the defence applied for an order from the judge....
you will have to tell us if under these circumstances the prosecution has first look-see

I mean the courts may be full of prosecution lawyers leaning across to the defence and saying - "I think we have to acquit your client, dont you?"[ - I just dont kinda recollect it

Peter Taylor LJ was asked why he had imprisoned innocent Irish men for around 20 y - replied
it is not my fault if the Police choose to lie to me

I mean yeah - talk about taking ownership of a case !
mikey4444

I am sure you knew exactly what I was on about, even before Gromit kindly gave yo an hint.

You gave yourself away when you typed this 'cop out'.

/// I am now unsure if the same bad practise hasn't been occurring in other Police Forces in England and Wales ? ///

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