A 12-year-old boy was sentenced yesterday for his part in the disturbances that broke out in England at the end of July. The boy, who is too young to be identified, admitted the crime of violent disorder and was given a referral order – which is described as a unique sentence underpinned by the principles of restoration, reparation and reintegration.
The disturbances, which lasted for little more than a week, followed a mass stabbing attack at a dance studio in Southport, Merseyside, in which three children were killed and 10 others — two adults and eight children — were injured. It’s said that the trouble stopped because rioters arrested by the police were imprisoned by the courts in record time.
What role did prosecutors have in all this? Did the rapid response by the Crown Prosecution Service bring the disturbances to an end? That’s one of the questions I put to Stephen Parkinson, who heads the service as director of public prosecutions, in the latest episode of A Lawyer Talks — my podcast for everyone with a paid subscription to A Lawyer Writes. Parkinson tells me about “Gold Command”, COBRA and the importance of communications.
Following his announcement that prosecutors do not expect to make any charging decisions arising from the Grenfell Tower fire until the end of 2026, I asked the DPP to explain what the process involved — and why the priorities had been different in the Lucy Letby case.
He also told me how the Crown Prosecution Service plans to reduce delays in the criminal justice system.
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