Prosecutors to retain base in city

The Chief Crown Prosecutor for Yorkshire and the Humber, Martin Goldman, has written to the Labour MP for York Central, Hugh Bayley, to inform him that a CPS presence will remain in the city.

Mr Bayley has been a staunch campaigner to ensure CPS offices stayed in York after staff at the current base at Athena House were faced with being transferred to Leeds under cost-cutting measures.

Mr Goldman said that while a decision has been taken to move out of Athena House, a team will be kept in York and the CPS is hopeful that it will be centrally located near the courts. However, no details have so far been given as to how many staff will remain in York.

Mr Bayley welcomed the decision, and claimed a relocation to Leeds could have actually incurred costs as it would have undermined working relationships with the courts and led to delays in legal proceedings.

He added: “It makes no economic sense to transfer the CPS office to Leeds as this could severely impact on court services in York and Selby. Any short-term financial gain could prove more expensive in the long-term.

“The question now is how many staff will stay in York and whether they will maintain the benefits of working closely with the police on preparing cases for the courts.”