Keir Starmer QC speaks at
James Smart Lecture
The annual James Smart Memorial
Lecture was held last Wednesday, with guest speaker Keir
Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions.
City of London Police was this year's host, and more than 70
guests were at Wood Street Station to hear Mr Starmer speak. They
included Chief Constable Stephen House of Strathclyde Police,
Robert Gordon, chair of the James Smart Council and Stephen Rimmer,
Director General of the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Group.
The lecture is held in memory of James Smart, first Chief
Constable of the City of Glasgow Police and a notable police
reformer. Edinburgh, Glasgow and City of London rotate hosting the
event.
Mr Starmer used the lecture as an opportunity to call for a
debate on how to create what he dubbed a ‘criminal justice
service’, focused on partners providing better consistency.
Commissioner Mike Bowron had earlier introduced Mr Starmer,
highlighting the history of an annual lecture that has run since
1972.