Hate crime prosecutions are set to be fast-tracked due to a “deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents”, the chief prosecutor for England and Wales has said.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Stephen Parkinson has issued guidance to prosecutors which says “any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently” once the evidential threshold for a charge is met.
The new guidance follows a series of attacks on Britain’s Jewish community which have contributed to concerns that antisemitism is on the rise.
Explaining the decision to fast-track hate crimes, the DPP said in his guidance to prosecutors: “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.”
Mr Parkinson said “only a fraction” of antisemitic crimes are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), saying the Jewish community faces “extreme acts of violence and criminal damage”.
The guidance continues: “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.
“All such incidents are crimes, but only a fraction of them are referred to the CPS.
“Where they are, we prosecute in the great majority of cases, with a high conviction rate.”
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