CPS Dissolves London Advisory Panel on Hate Crimes

Campaigners still fear that the Crown Prosecution Service is ‘advised by one political colour’ and has ‘clear signs of ideological capture.’

The Crown Prosecution Service building in London in an undated file photo. Kirsty O’Connor/PA

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dissolved and reviewed an advisory panel on hate crimes as such panels must “command public confidence.”

According to a blog post from January, the panel included representatives of various community groups, including the Jewish and Muslim communities, groups representing LGBT communities, and members of hate crime monitoring organisations including Tell MAMA and Galop.

The CPS did not give a specific reason why the panel was disbanded. Stephen Parkinson was appointed the new director of public prosecutions in September, replacing former boss Max Hill at the end of October.

Undated photo showing the sign of the Crown Prosecution Service. Alamy/PA

A spokesman told The Epoch Times by email: “Hate crime scrutiny panels must command public confidence and this panel—which was already due to be reviewed—has now been dissolved. We look forward to taking on new advisory members in the near future.”

The Epoch Times understands that there are multiple hate crimes panels across the country and their memberships are now constantly under review.

According to the CPS blog post, “The purpose of the panel, which meets quarterly, is to give community representatives and interest groups a better understanding of how the police and prosecutors are working together to tackle hate crimes against all communities, to review the success rates and discuss issues where referral of hate crimes or prosecution success rates are lower than expected.”

Media outlets have reported claims regarding London hate crime panel member Mohammed Kozbar, who in 2015 said that the founder of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was “the master of the martyrs of resistance.”

Mr. Kozbar is also deputy secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Kozbar clarified that the dissolution of the London Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel was not directly linked to his involvement, and the CPS has not indicated any connection between its decision and Mr. Kozbar’s participation on the panel.

He added that he received a letter from the CPS and other members of the panel, expressing their gratitude for his services and contribution to the Hate Crime Panel. He also emphasised his commitment to addressing hate crimes and fostering a safer community.

Hate Crimes

In January, former Chief Crown Prosecutor and panel Chair Barry Hughes said: “It’s incredibly important that those communities most at risk from hate crimes have the confidence that the CPS, and our police colleagues, are doing everything possible to identify and prosecute those who carry out these hateful crimes.

“The panel also provides an opportunity for these groups to help us, by giving us a better understanding of how these crimes impact on communities, how we can better reach out to members of the community, and how we can increase the willingness to report crimes to the police.

“We know that hate crimes are vastly under-reported, so hearing from advocates and representatives of these groups is essential.”

In England, there is no such thing legislatively as a “hate crime,” but there are several pieces of relevant legislation under which people can be prosecuted for offences towards protected characteristics, such as the Communications Act 2003 or the Public Order Act 1986.

Fair Cop

Despite the shut down of the hate crime panel, the organsition Fair Cop said it is still increasingly concerned by the “clear signs of ideological capture” of the CPS.

Fair Cop was set up in response to what it calls “Big Brother” overreach of various police forces and other authorities in England.

Barrister and co-founder of Fair Cop Sarah Phillimore told The Epoch Times that she believes that the CPS is “advised by one political colour.”

Barrister Sarah Phillimore speaking to NTD's Lee Hall on the "British Thought Leaders" programme on Sept. 26, 2023. NTD

Ms. Phillimore said that there are still transgender activist hate crime and violence against women and girls advisers within the CPS who have social media accounts that denigrate anyone with opposing views regarding gender as “transphobic.”

She also pointed out that the CPS’s revised domestic abuse guidance 2022 now includes “refusing money for transition” or refusing to use preferred pronouns, calling it “utterly crazy.”

“We know who is advising them, but they [the CPS] won’t tell us,” she added.

The Epoch Times understands that this element of the CPS’s revised domestic abuse guidance could soon be under review.

On Nov. 8, the debate prompted Conservative member of the House of Lords, Lord Lucas, to table a question to the government regarding which individuals or organisations outside the CPS consulted on its plans to revise its domestic abuse guidance in 2022.