Annual Report 2012-2013 page 3

In prosecuting matters, the Director acts on behalf of the community. Prosecutors have strikingly been called “ministers of justice”, a phrase which sums up the unique position of the prosecutor in the criminal justice system. It has been said that prosecutors must always act with fairness and detachment with the objectives of establishing the whole truth and ensuring a fair trial.

In making decisions in the prosecution process, prosecutors are guided by the procedures and standards which the law requires to be observed, and in particular by the Prosecution Policy promulgated by the Director. The Prosecution Policy is available on the website of the Office and is appended to this report.

From time to time the Director issues guidelines to prosecutors in relation to a particular area. A recent guideline dealt with the way in which prosecutors will exercise the election to have matters dealt with summarily.

Although the Office does not have clients as such, in performing its functions the Office works closely with the Courts, the legal profession, police and other investigators, victims’ representatives and other government agencies.

A senior management meeting involving the Director, senior executives, director corporate services, paralegal manager and senior lawyers takes place each week. There are also frequent meetings of prosecutors and paralegal staff and these meetings are used to communicate proposals and requests, and invite feedback.

The Office structure during the reporting period was as follows: