Former chief prosecutor Alison Saunders rewarded with damehood despite series of scandals

[dutchman]

Alison Saunders was accused of allowing lives to be "ruined" by a series of collapsed rape trials



A former chief prosecutor who presided over a series of botched rape trials is awarded a damehood today, prompting criticism of the honours system for “rewarding failure”.

Alison Saunders, who stepped down as director of public prosecutions last year, becomes a DCB in the New Year Honours list despite accusations that lives were “ruined” during her tenure.

Dame Alison faced heavy criticism during her time as DPP for presiding over several rape cases that collapsed as a result of the prosecution failing to disclose evidence.

Last year the 58-year-old became the first former head of the Crown Prosecution Service not to receive a senior honour in what was widely interpreted as a snub from the honours committee. A year later, however, Dame Alison has been handed one of Britain’s highest civilian accolades.

Campaigners last night raised questions over whether the honours system was delaying gongs for controversial figures until they had faded from public consciousness.

Samuel Armstrong, a former Tory MP’s aide who was cleared of rape after claiming there had been late disclosure of crucial material in his case, described the news of Dame Alison’s honour as a “kick in the teeth”.

"Alison Saunders' dangerous crusades saw the lives of totally innocent people ruined,” he told the Telegraph.

“When she lost out last year, there was hope that justice had been done. Now we know - rather than rewarding the best, the honours system is simply hands out automatic gongs to top bureaucrats, no matter how badly they perform in office. This will be a kick in the teeth to all the victims of Saunders' prosecutorial campaigns. It’s clear that the decision makers have waited for public passions to fade before rewarding failure in this way.

“Making someone who shamed their office a dame will seriously undermine confidence in the honours system."

Whitehall sources last night pointed out that the New Years Honours list had been compiled according to the priorities of former prime minister Theresa May, rather than Boris Johnson.

“It’s very much Theresa’s list,” one said.