HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : High Court Judge to lead review of Customs and Excise investigation procedures [November 2002]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 29 November 2002.

HM Treasury and the Attorney General’s office today named Mr Justice Butterfield as head of the review of current practices and procedures relating to disclosure, associated investigation techniques and case management in HM Customs and Excise’ criminal cases, announced by Economic Secretary John Healey on 26 November.

Mr Justice Butterfield will begin work in January 2003, though preparatory work has already begun. He is expected to report to the Economic Secretary and the Attorney in June 2003.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Announcement of the review followed the decision of the prosecution not to offer further evidence in a hearing in cases relating to London City Bond being heard at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 25 November. Further details of the review, including the terms of reference, were announced in HM Treasury press release 123/02.

2. Mr Justice (Neil) Butterfield (60) was educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1965 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1985. His practice was in criminal law and he served as Leader of the Western Circuit from 1992 to 1995 when he was appointed a Justice of the High Court, assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. He served as a Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit from 1997 to 2000.