SERGEANT Richard Wiseall hands Dorset Crown Advocate Angela England a bundle of witness statements.

One of three Bournemouth-based police case directors, he outlines the evidence against a persistent young offender who is wanted for assault.

The youth, with previous convictions for violence and criminal damage, hasn't completed his community service.

After casting a trained eye over victim statements documenting their injuries, Miss England decides that the youth should be charged with common assault.

"The government has given youth crime a high profile and cases involving persistent young offenders must be dealt with quickly," she explains.

Once Miss England has made her decision, Dorset Police can ensure that other forces across the country are made aware of the youth and that he is brought before a youth court as soon as possible.

Her next case involves an alleged assault in Bournemouth town centre in April.

Miss England reads medical statements and studies photographs showing the young victim's injuries.

A witness has picked out the suspect, who is on bail, during an identification procedure.

The injuries are consistent with an assault but Miss England advises the police to go back to the victim for an updated statement on the long-term effects of his injuries.

Lawyers based in custody centres in Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth hand out similar advice during normal office hours.

Out-of-hours guidance on whether suspects should be charged is given by CPS Direct, a national organisation employing lawyers scattered across the country.

Miss England believes the new system, whereby the CPS is responsible for deciding which cases are to be prosecuted, is preferable to police officers making the final decisions.

She said: "I spend my time in court so I know what can make a case succeed or fail.

"When a police officer comes in with evidence they will either have someone in custody or on bail.

"If they are in custody it is likely to be a more serious matter like rape or murder; or maybe a prolific shoplifter.

"I have to decide on whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a charge.

"Officers show me exhibits such as mobile phones, CCTV footage or objects such as knives which could form part of a case.

"There is a code for crown prosecutors. When someone is in custody I have to decide whether there is a reasonable suspicion that they have committed the offence.

"If someone is on bail I need more evidence to charge them; there must be a realistic prospect of conviction.

"In both instances prosecutions must be in the public interest.

"Lawyers have three options - they can decide to charge, decide not to take further action or conclude there is insufficient evidence and further work needs to be done by the police.

"By working together our aim is to get cases trial ready'.

"Ultimately it's a balancing act and all about evaluating the evidence."

Sgt Wiseall said: "The new charging system, involving lawyers, means we are not taking so many cases to court any more but we are getting better results.

"I am more detached than officers working on specific cases and try to act as a filter so time isn't wasted.

"Specialist officers, such as those involved in child protection, sometimes book a two- or three-hour slot with the lawyer who will view video material.

"When someone is in custody, decisions need to be made sooner rather than later and they will queue-jump."

Miss England insisted that financial considerations did not affect her judgement.

"If someone has stolen a chocolate bar and it's in the public interest to proceed, I will.

"We must spend public money wisely but cost doesn't come into the equation.

"Sometimes the strength of evidence is such that it is not right or proper to put a matter before the court, like when victims will have to relive personal traumas when there is little or no hope of a case succeeding.

"The framework is there for us to make a decision; we have to look at the whole picture and use our own judgement."