‘Victims’ call for review of DPP’s Janner decision

ALLEGED victims of Lord Janner have formally asked prosecutors to review their decision not to charge the peer with child sex offences.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders announced earlier this month that the case against the former Labour MP was strong enough to bring to court. But she provoked outrage by ruling that Janner, 86, should not face trial because he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Now a solicitor for several of the peer’s accusers has requested that the Crown Prosecution Service should think again.

Liz Dux of law firm Slater and Gordon yesterday wrote to Mrs Saunders asking her to reconsider the decision not to charge Janner, who is accused of preying on boys at care homes around his former Leicester constituency between 1969 and 1988.

Mrs Saunders found there was sufficient evidence to charge Janner with 22 sex attacks on nine children. However, she said the peer should not be prosecuted because his dementia means he could not follow the court proceedings. Janner’s family have denied all the allegations against him.

Child abuse campaigners questioned the extent of Janner’s mental deterioration after learning that he signed a letter to the House of Lords as recently as this month. He has also hosted numerous events in Parliament since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2009.