HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Government Responds to Butterfield Review of Customs Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions [July 2003]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 15 July 2003.

The Government today published the review by Mr Justice Butterfield into HM Customs and Excise investigations and prosecutions, and the Government response to the review in the form of a written ministerial statement (attached in full). Both John Healey, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, QC found the report thorough, detailed and thoughtful.

John Healey, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: “The Government welcomes this report.

“The Butterfield report lays bare the major failings in the LCB investigations but it also confirms the far-reaching changes made in Customs since then, which mean that the same problems should not happen again.

“The report warns against complacency, and makes recommendations for reinforcing the changes in Customs still further, which I accept in full and Customs will implement.

“Mr Justice Butterfield encourages Customs to put the events of LCB behind them. His report allows Customs to draw a line under what happened in the 1990’s and continue to rebuild its reputation as an effective law enforcement agency in bringing some of the most serious smugglers and other criminals to justice.”

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, said:

“We asked Justice Butterfield to carry out this review because we wanted to understand what went wrong with the LCB cases, and ensure the arrangements for bringing drug dealers and other criminals to justiceare the best they can be.

“This report makes a range of important proposals for further improving the way Customs investigates and prosecutes crime, and for enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal justice process.

“A key recommendation is that the Prosecutions Group should become a separate prosecuting authority, accountable to the Attorney General. The Government strongly agrees that the independence of prosecutors must be
protected. Independent prosecutorial decision-making is a key constitutional safeguard. We will be considering how the independence of Customs prosecutors can be further enhanced, and responding in the autumn.”