THE reasons for cracked and ineffective trials are incredibly complex. Yet your article implied that every time a case does not go ahead, it is because of some error or ineptitude on the prosecution's part.

You acknowledge that a high proportion of delays are due to the defence, which is beyond our control.

In North Yorkshire there are a high number of cracked trials, a trend we are working to reverse. That said, cracked trials are often the result of a guilty plea by the defendant on the day. This is a positive result, although we would rather see it happen much earlier.

It can be frustrating for victims and witnesses who come to court only to find the trial is not going ahead, but often it is because they have turned up to testify that a defendant changes their plea.

There is more work to do, and we will be looking closely at the National Audit Office report to see if we can identify further ways of reducing the number of trials which don't go ahead when planned.

However, the report refers to 2004/05, and since then a number of factors have been introduced to improve the situation.

The introduction of our award-winning witness care unit last year has led to an increased level of care for victims and witnesses before and during the court process, and the police and CPS are now working even more closely together to get the charge right at the earliest stage.

The Victim's Code Of Practice launches in April, giving crime victims the right to a minimum standard of service from the criminal justice agencies.

The criminal justice process has also been examined locally as part of a national initiative, and changes have been identified which will ensure cases are managed more effectively.

Della Cannings,

Chairman of the North Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board,

Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police,

Police Headquarters,

Newby Wiske,

Northallerton.

Updated: 10:12 Wednesday, March 01, 2006