A story that appeared in the national papers over the weekend really brought home to me that it is time to scarp the pathetic target driven, risk averse CPS once and for all.

Three escape prosecution for hit-and-run:

Three men have escaped prosecution for a hit-and-run crash, which left a teenager with brain damage, because it could not be proved who was driving. Prosecutors dropped the case against the three men who ploughed into 16-year-old Becky Bowman as she waited for a bus. Miss Bowman was left in a coma for three weeks and spent five months in hospital as her family were told to prepare for the worst. Even when she slowly recovered there were fears she would never walk or speak again. She is now working with a team of physiotherapists to help her recovery.

A two-day trial was due to start at Doncaster Magistrates' Court but the Crown Prosecution Service admitted they could could not go ahead because police had been unable to establish which of three men Brendan McCardle, aged 23, Ricky Davies, 19, and Brett May, 19, had been driving the car.

Miss Bowman's mother Samantha said:"It's outrageous, it is absolutely awful to find out that there is not going to be as trial. Somebody out there has done this to Becky. They have destroyed a 16 year old girl's life and they should be punished. Becky does nothing but cry at the moment, because it's coming up to the anniversary and to find out that no one will be punished has made it even worse".

What a disgrace the CPS are. This is the latest in a string of incidents where the CPS refuse to prosecute as they can't be 100% sure of securing a conviction.

Well shame on them and their target driven paymasters. It's time that these ineffective imbeciles were put out to pasture and the decision to charge criminals reverted to the custody sergeant at the police station.