The Crown Prosecution Service today finally admitted there was no “public interest” in prosecuting the non-violent UKuncut protesters arrested at Fortnum & Mason’s on March 26th.

109 cases have been dropped. However, they say that they will continue to pursue the other 30 cases through the judicial process.

In a statement today, Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS London, said:

After careful and necessary investigative work by the police to provide the fullest evidential picture, we have reviewed the evidence now available and considered representations made by the defence teams.

I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for the offence of aggravated trespass against all the defendants, however, in discontinuing these cases I have considered whether a prosecution is necessary in the public interest. I have decided that it is not, taking into account the following factors from the Code for Crown Prosecutors:

• that this was a single incident;

• that they have not been involved in similar offences previously and that they played only a minor role in the offending behaviour;

• that if these defendants had been convicted the court would be likely to impose only a nominal penalty.

The police investigation was able to identify whether these factors were present for each defendant. It was only after such an investigation that these factors could be applied.

We have warned those whose cases have been discontinued that this reasoning may not apply in future if they go on to commit other similar offences.

We have notified the court and the defendants’ representatives of this decision.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Police explain why they're dropped @UKuncut charges http://bit.ly/nK15tf

2. Nemesis Republic

   RT @libcon: Police explain why they're dropped @UKuncut charges http://bit.ly/nK15tf #ukuncut

3. Liberal Conspiracy

   CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://t.co/305brIE

4. vicki whelan

   CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://t.co/305brIE

5. manishta sunnia

   CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://t.co/305brIE

6. Free Hetherington

   CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://t.co/305brIE

7. Anonymous Watcher

   CPS=Crown Prosecution Service here in UK RT @libcon: CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://bit.ly/nK15tf

8. Simon Berriman

   CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://t.co/305brIE

9. Captain Swing

   CPS explain why they dropped 100+ @UKuncut charges from F&Ms http://t.co/305brIE

10. Elena Blackmore

    What about the fact the police assured them they wouldn't be detained on leaving the store? http://t.co/Q4CrCRs

11. Jamminjuda

    CPS drops charges against #ukuncut protesters http://t.co/jJyrA1R. Issues warning effectively binding them over without a day in court.

12. David Davies

    CPS admits no “public interest” in prosecuting non-violent @UKuncut protesters arrested at Fortnum's on March 26th ~ http://t.co/Ei4IJy3

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