CPS Annual Report 2005-2006 - PDF - Crown Prosecution Service

In the year, the Board commissioned a review of the CPS
governance structure against the principles set out in Code of
Practice on Corporate Governance.This was the first annual
review of its governance arrangements.The CPS aims to
conform to all relevant key aspects of the code and has, or will
implement in 2006-07, improvements to ensure that:
• Board members notify and register with the secretariat any
issues on which they might have a conflict of interest (code
principle 2.12);
• The Board and committees maintain a balance of skills and
experience appropriate to the needs of CPS business and are
fully cognisant of their roles to provide corporate leadership
to the organization as a whole (code principles 3.1-3.6);
• Independent non-executive Board members are identified in
the annual report (code principle 4.2);
• The terms of reference of the Audit Committee and an
annual report on its work are published (code provision 5.3).
The Department has an internal audit function that operates to
the Government Internal Audit Standards guidance.They submit
regular reports to the Audit Committee, including a report
from the Head of Internal Audit that provides an independent
opinion on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Department’s
system of internal control and includes recommendations for
improvement to the systems of internal control.
In accordance with Code of Good Practice on Corporate
Governance, the Audit Committee has prepared its first annual
report on the work of discharging its responsibilities: “the Audit
Committee’s role is to support the Accounting Officers and
CPS Board in monitoring [the effectiveness of] the corporate
governance, control and risk management arrangements in the
CPS.The committee had four quorate meetings during the past
twelve months during which it reviewed and approved the
annual audit plan; the Head of Internal Audit’s Annual Report to
the Accounting Officers and the CPS Board; and the Statement
on Internal Control. In addition the Audit Committee has
reviewed and considered NAO observations on the annual
accounts and continually reviewed progress against the Internal
Audit Plan and all major developments and departmental
initiatives that impact on internal control, risk management or
corporate governance. It has, when appropriate, requested
explanations from departmental management in respect of
actions that have impacted upon the control, risk and corporate
governance environment.The Audit Committee has also
reviewed and directed internal/external audit cooperation for
the next year ended 31 March [2007]”.
RESOURCE ACCOUNTS 49
The committee is considering how to develop the arrangements
for preparing and publishing its annual report for 2006-07.
The DCC is responsible for:
• Reviewing the effectiveness of departmental planning and risk
management arrangements;
• Monitoring progress of the department’s risk management
development plan;
• Reviewing progress of the actions planned to manage the
CPS corporate risks; and
• Overseeing the departmental change portfolio.
At the end of the calendar year each CCP and HQ Director
completes a certificate of assurance.The certificates include a
statement on the level of assurance achieved throughout the year by
the Area/Directorate against key aspects of the business.They
specifically provide an assurance on the effectiveness of local systems
to identify and manage the principal risks to the delivery of the PSA
targets. All certificates are validated against HM Crown Prosecution
Service Inspectorate reports and other performance information.
CPS operates a quarterly performance review programme:Area
CCP and Business Managers comment on performance against 15
key measures and occasional thematic/topical criteria that for 2005-
06 included local risk management arrangements and the content of
their assurance certificates.Action plans for performance
improvement are agreed with me, the Chief Executive and the
Director of Business Development. For 2006-07 this process will be
extended to all managers, including HQ Directors, directly
accountable to me and the Chief Executive.
Independent review of business efficiency and effectiveness in the
Areas is carried out by HM Crown Prosecution Service
Inspectorate. In 2005-06 it undertook a programme of follow up
inspection reviews of Area casework and management systems
and published reports of Operational Performance Assessment
reviews undertaken in all 42 Areas. HM Crown Prosecution
Service Inspectorate also carries out joint thematic inspections
with other independent Criminal Justice inspectorates.
Significant internal control issues
I have no significant internal control issues to report for 2005-
06 and all previously reported issues have been cleared.
Ken Macdonald QC
Accounting Officer 26 June 2006
THE CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT & RESOURCE ACCOUNTS 2005 – 06