A
duty prosecutor is to join the cast of characters in the popular police drama
series The Bill. Scriptwriters have already begun developing story lines
for the part of Senior Crown Prosecutor Jonathan Fox,
following research into the new procedure whereby the Crown Prosecution Service
takes over responsibility for deciding upon which charges will be brought
against suspects.Casting for the role was due to take place in February, and the Duty Prosecutor will be seen making his debut at Sun Hill Police Station in May. To add interest to the part, story editors have given Fox an intriguing background. According to their biography, he is an ex-boxer in his late 40s who had “a prolific career as a defence barrister and was renowned for his ability to swing any case in his direction”. After the breakdown of his marriage, the single father moved to prosecuting and began an equally successful career in the CPS.
Kevin Rundle, assistant story editor at programme-makers Talkback Thames, said “We see the Duty Prosecutor as a strong character, capable of meeting challenges. He’s very intelligent, articulate and witty, yet as a gruff ex-boxer and Londoner, he’s no pushover”.
Explaining the reason for adding a Duty Prosecutor to the line-up, he said “The CPS character will give us another dimension to our story-telling and the chance of creating a new dynamic among the characters. His advisory capacity will extend into personal relationships - his paternal nature will have a real impact on the younger police officers.”
He said the procedure of the CPS making charging decisions and providing guidance to police could be used to create dramatic storylines. For example, tensions could surface when Fox resists pressure from police to bring an unrealistic charge, or has to deal with officers resentful over the shift in charging responsibility.