Who decides if an incident should go to court (N.Ireland)?

[abstibus]

Do the police (two constables who took statements from both parties) decide whether an alleged assault should go to court or is this decision made by a higher jurisdiction?

[jno]

it should go to the CPS (crown prosecution service). Individual policeman don't make that kind of jusgment.

[jno]

aaargh, sorry, should have read the whole question - I don't know about NI. Apologies.

[DTCwordfan]

thank God ^

[abstibus]

Thanks, both.
Can I ask you a further question?
A claims he was assaulted by B - no witnesses.
A makes a statement to police.
B is interviewed and makes a statement. Later attends police station with lawyer who challenges inaccuracies in statement.
A claims he has a cut on finger and wishes to press charges against B.
B has to be treated for neck pain and wishes to press charges against A
My question is - will A be re-interviewed in the light of B's charges or will his original statement stand?
Many thanks

[EDDIE51]

Once you have made a statement it is on record and can be used in court, you can make a further statement but it will not look good if the 2 statements say diffrent things.

[tomyoung90]

Crown Prosecution Service decide if a case should go to court based on the likelihood of a conviction and whether it is in the public interest. The police do not decide if the case goes to court. If they did then the courts would be stuffed full of petty cases and hours of court time would be wasted. When making a decision, the CPS will look at all the evidence in the case and decide on it's merit.

[abstibus]

Thank you for your replies.
I have found that the PPSis the equivalent of the CPS in N Ireland.
Can anyone please tell me if A will be interviewed again in the light of B pressing charges?
B did not originally intend to do so, but when he heard that A intended to press charges, he changed his mind.
Thanks