Letter: Fighting for the CPS

Sir: Polly Toynbee ("Barristers: a law unto themselves", 10 April) doubts my commitment to achieving rights of audience for CPS lawyers in the higher courts.

On the day that I was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions in April 1992, I said in my first public statement that "I will continue to fight vigorously for rights of audience for CPS lawyers. After all, I have lost my own rights of audience." My views were widely reported and are certainly familiar to all in the legal profession.

Neither my views nor my commitment to achieving those rights have altered. I have put our case at every suitable opportunity, including written and oral submissions to the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct on several occasions, and I shall continue to do so.

Barbara Mills, QC

Director of Public

Prosecutions

Head of the Crown

Prosecution Service

London EC4