Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to address failures relating to disclosure of evidence through the encouragement of early engagement between prosecution and defence in criminal cases.

The Attorney General’s Review of the efficiency and effectiveness of disclosure in the criminal justice system, published in November 2018, highlights the need for early engagement. The Review includes recommendations on pre-charge engagement and proportionate frontloading to ensure there is a better balance between streamlining work and performing disclosure obligations early. This National Disclosure Improvement Plan, which contains commitments made by the CPS, NPCC and College of Policing, also highlights the importance of engagement between the prosecution and the defence.