Alison is a barrister. She joined the Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) in 1986, the year it was formed; prior to that she worked at Lloyds of London following her pupillage. She served as Deputy Legal Adviser to the Attorney General from 2003 before rejoining the CPS two years later to set up and head the Organised Crime Division. In December 2009, Alison was appointed the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London. In November 2013 she became DPP, the first to be appointed from within the CPS.
As the consultation on Draft CPS Guidance on Speaking to Witnesses at Court takes place, the DPP, Alison Saunders, explains the reasoning behind the guidance and Tony Cross QC gives the Criminal Bar Association’s view.
Last month I announced new proposals to better assist victims and witnesses called to court to give evidence in criminal trials.
Chair of the Bar reflects on 2025
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
Revolt Cycling in Holborn, London’s first sustainable fitness studio, invites barristers to join the revolution – turning pedal power into clean energy
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, reflects on how the company’s Giving Back ethos continues to make a difference to communities across the UK
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Professor Dominic Regan and Seán Jones KC present their best buys for this holiday season
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
