Is the DPP the legal representative of victims of crime or the Police?
No. The DPP is not the legal representative of victims of crime. The DPP is an independent prosecuting agency and acts in the best interests of the State as a whole. The DPP determines the charges to be heard and independently conducts prosecutions. The DPP however recognises the special place of victims in the justice system and will take their views into account when making decisions on prosecutions. The DPP relies on information provided by police following their investigations, and will liaise closely with the Police in the course of the Prosecution. However, the DPP does not represent the WA Police Service in prosecutions.
