Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Abu Qatada was not brought to trial in the UK. [96657]

The Attorney-General: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Attorney-General’s Office.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has no power to investigate allegations of crime. The police decide whether an investigation is required and how it should be conducted. 

The CPS considers evidence provided to it by the police and will bring charges where there is both sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for an offence and it is in the public interest to do so.

In the case of Abu Qatada the CPS has not to date received sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.