Counter-terror work of CPS recognised

A special award has been presented to the Counter-Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for its work on the airline bomb plot and other cases.

The division’s efforts were recognised in a special ceremony at The Hague on September 6, where the president of the International Association of Prosecutors, Francois Falletti, made the presentation.

Sue Hemming, head of the Counter-Terrorism Division, and Colin Gibbs, the senior prosecutor in the airline bomb plot, accepted the award.

CPS policy adviser Esther George also attended the ceremony, where she was presented with a certificate of merit for her work on setting up the Global Prosecutors E-Crime Network (GPen) – an online information-sharing network to help solve hi-tech crimes around the world.

Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “I am particularly pleased that the Special Achievement Award highlights the professional approach of staff in the Counter-Terrorism Division and the high regard in which they are held inside and outside the CPS and around the world.

“It recognises that they are dedicated and professional, often working long hours on complex and sensitive cases which can be very demanding. This award is a fitting tribute to all their hard work.”

Prosecutions in the airline bomb plot and the Counter-Terrorism Division’s other cases are normally complex and challenging, due to their enormous scale, evidence being required from international jurisdictions, and the handling of sensitive national security information and intelligence.

Ms Hemming said: “I am proud to be the leader of a division with prosecutors of Mr Gibbs’ calibre and which, as a team, has been recognised as an exemplar for dealing with such complex, sensitive and challenging work.”