The Committee wants to look at the potential consequences of an organisation investigating and prosecuting a case, when that organisation is also the alleged victim of the offence. Are existing safeguards sufficient? Should there be further limits on the rights of large organisations to bring private prosecutions? What is the potential for miscarriages of justice to take place?
The inquiry, ‘Private prosecutions: safeguards’, was set up in response to a request from the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which recently referred 47 convictions of Post Office employees for appeal after it emerged issues with the Post Office’s Horizon computer system may have caused an abuse of process.
Currently, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can take over a private prosecution, in some cases.
Sir Bob Neill, chair of the Justice Committee, said: ‘The Post Office Horizon cases are a clear example of a large organisation acting as investigator and prosecutor of alleged crimes in which they were also the victim.
‘There is a real risk that organisations in such circumstances will be faced with a conflict of interest that could call into question their ability to conduct an objective investigation and prosecution.’
The Committee is keen to hear from organisations and individuals by 1 July (written evidence). An oral evidence session will take place on 7 July. Submit evidence at: www.bit.ly/3fPaAoW.
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