SIMON Corbell has joined with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the ACT, Jon White SC, to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of the office.

“The DPP has played a vital role in the justice system over the past 25 years,” Simon said.

“As the population of the ACT continues to grow, more people will depend on the ACT DPP to achieve justice on behalf of the community.”

“The DPP is responsible for the prosecution of laws against the Territory, provides assistance to Coroners and aids the recovery of taxes, pecuniary penalties and the proceeds of crime.

“The office is prosecuting many more family violence matters with support from the DPP’s Witness Assistance Service.

“In the past five years sexual assault and related offences in both the Magistrates Court and Childrens Court has risen from 42 in 2011-12 to 135 in the 2014-15 financial year.

“The ACT DPP earlier this year successfully appealed to the High Court in the matter of The Queen v GW which established important principles for young children giving evidence in sexual offences.

“The ACT Government also regularly consults with the DPP on law reform, including changes to family violence legislation, and through the Sexual Assault Reform Program.

“Prosecutors are well placed to identify the potential for law reform and I value the significant contribution the ACT DPP has made to law reform in the ACT.”

Simon thanked Jon White, and previous directors Ken Crispin QC, Terry Buddin SC and Justice Richard Refshauge SC for their service to the ACT community.

“The office has grown substantially since its first year of operation when 39 officers were employed,” Mr Corbell said.

“Now there are over 70 officers most of whom are either prosecutors or paralegals. I would like to thank current and past officers of the DPP for their commitment to the achievement of justice.”

In the 2014-15 financial year, 206 matters were finalised in the Childrens Court, 3,910 in the Magistrates Court, 6 in the Industrial Court, 304 in the Supreme Court and 35 in the Court of Appeal.