An independent watchdog tells the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) it must urgently improve how it investigates potential miscarriages of justice, citing concerns linked to failures in the Andrew Malkinson case. In an inspection report, Anthony Rogers, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, criticises the CCRC’s “lack of proactive, effective casework quality assurance.” The watchdog says these weaknesses raise the risk of similar problems recurring and therefore requires the CCRC to strengthen its quality controls and investigative processes.
The inspection also acknowledges that, despite the criticism, the CCRC is ultimately fit for purpose. The wording indicates the regulator’s assessment is aimed at improving effectiveness and reducing repeat errors, rather than disbanding the body. The report is presented as a prompt for urgent operational changes in how the CCRC reviews cases and ensures the reliability of its casework before decisions are reached.
