The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for England and Wales, Stephen Parkinson, has issued new guidance to fast-track hate crime prosecutions in response to a "deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents". The directive instructs prosecutors to proceed with charges once the evidential threshold is met, allowing supporting evidence to be gathered afterward.
New Guidance for Prosecutors
In the guidance, Mr Parkinson stated: "Its purpose is to ensure that charging decisions are made swiftly and efficiently, with prosecutors focusing on the core evidence required to determine whether the evidential test is met. Where that threshold for prosecution is satisfied, then a prosecution decision should not be delayed – any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently."
The move follows a series of attacks on Britain's Jewish community, heightening concerns over rising antisemitism. Mr Parkinson emphasised that only a small fraction of antisemitic crimes are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), despite the community facing "extreme acts of violence and criminal damage".
Context of Rising Incidents
The guidance notes: "This guidance is issued against a background of a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. These are not limited to the extreme acts of violence and criminal damage that are currently the subject of investigation and proceedings. Instead, it is evident that, as they go about their daily lives, the Jewish community face numerous incidents which involve threats or abuse and which are intended or likely to cause distress to Jewish people."
Mr Parkinson added that all such incidents are crimes, but only a fraction are referred to the CPS. "Where they are, we prosecute in the great majority of cases, with a high conviction rate," he said.
