CPS manager charged for fraud over allegedly claiming £1m in false taxi expenses

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) finance manager will appear in court today charged with conspiracy to commit fraud over her alleged role in falsely claiming taxi expenses totalling at least £1 million.

Lisa Burrows, 41, from Birmingham, and the other member of staff, who has not been named, work for CPS West Midlands and allegedly made false claims for witness care taxi services to the value of at least £1,000,000, the CPS said in a statement.

Burrows was last night charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.

Her colleague is yet to be formally charged, the West Midlands force said.

Malcolm McHaffie, deputy head of special crime for the CPS, said: "Following a complaint by the Crown Prosecution Service and a subsequent investigation by West Midlands Police into two members of CPS staff, I have carefully considered available evidence in relation to Lisa Joanne Burrows, a finance manager, and another member of staff, an administrative officer. Both are employed by CPS West Midlands.

"I have now concluded that it is appropriate to charge both Burrows and the other individual with conspiracy to commit fraud.

"The charges relate to an allegation that Burrows and the other member of staff, on or before 27 February 2013, conspired together to commit fraud by false representation by submitting to the Crown Prosecution Service false claims for witness care taxi services to the value of at least £1,000,000 when no such services had been supplied. This is contrary to s1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

"This decision was taken under the Threshold Test of the Code for Crown Prosecutors. I have tonight authorised West Midlands Police to charge these two individuals, and Lisa Burrows has now been charged. The other individual has not yet been charged.

Burrows will appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

PA