THERE is no question of persons suspected of committing criminal offences being held unlawfully in police cells while CPS prosecutors make a decision as to whether charges should be brought (Letters, August 28).

The amount of time that a suspect can be held in police custody before charge is set by law and prosecutors comply with those time limits in making a charging decision.

Prosecutors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in person or by telephone to provide this service.

Hampshire police officers are not "bogged down" waiting for a CPS decision but are free to resume other duties. Where appropriate, suspects are bailed to enable a prosecutor to consider the papers that have been prepared by the police.

The police can and do continue to charge suspects in straightforward cases where a plea of guilty is likely. In the more complex cases, CPS authority must be given before a suspect is charged and this requires the prosecutor to decide, in accordance with the statutory code whether there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of a conviction and if so, whether it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution.

The early involvement of a prosecutor in a criminal investigation pays dividends in identifying potential further lines of inquiry and in strengthening the prosecution case.

Police and prosecutors in Hampshire are providing a high quality service to the victims of crime and our community by bringing offenders to justice where the evidence supports the case and by stopping weak cases from proceeding.

ADRIAN LOWER, district crown prosecutor, CPS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.