So far as the second is concerned we simply do not know what the

So far as the second is concerned, we simply do not know what the official attitude is in relation to allegations about the police. There must be a realistic prospect of conviction and the hearing of the case must be in the public interest. In other words, the Crown Prosecution Service preferred to toy with a theory that the son had somehow caused injuries to his father rather than bring a charge of manslaughter against the police.Two criteria are used to decide whether to prosecute or not. And here is what is so shocking about the attitude of the Crown Prosecution Service.It suggested that some of the injuries could have been sustained in the course of an altercation between Mr O'Brien's son and an officer in the back of the van, even though the inquest pathologist had given evidence discounting the possibility that Mr O'Brien's injuries were caused in the van. As a result, the CPS decided, wrongly as it now accepts, to take no action. For whatever reason, Mr O'Brien got into an argument with them. There was a struggle in which his 14-year-old son also took part Mr O'Brien was put into a police van.

The inquest jury was told Mr O'Brien had died of postural asphyxia after one officer knelt on his legs, another on his buttocks and another on his back, before he was put in the van. He and his wife and children had gone to a christening in London and then on to a dance at an Irish centre. While they were there a petty dispute broke out, not involving the O'Briens, and it turned nasty The police were called. It was forced to make these embarrassing about-turns because, for the first time ever, the courts had been asked to review the failure to prosecute.One of these cases reveals an unpleasant picture of the Crown Prosecution Service at work It concerns Richard O'Brien. The Crown Prosecution Service may well decide against bringing proceedings.But last week the Crown Prosecution Service admitted that it had been wrong not to bring charges against the police in two cases where suspects were overpowered and arrested late at night, and who subsequently died from their bruises and injuries.

The option of early retirement on a good pension is made freely available to officers who have become an embarrassment.Police forces have the power to prevent any investigation into their activities taking place simply by refusing to record the complaint.Where a complaint is referred to the Police Complaints Authority, it will be examined by another police force and not by investigators who come from outside the system.The people making the complaint will receive little information about how the matter is being dealt with, but the police trades union, the Police Federation, will be active in defence of its members.In the case of a death during arrest or in custody (there were 19 such deaths at police stations last year), a coroner's court may bring in a verdict of unlawful killing, but that does not mean that a prosecution will invariably follow. It is used in Kenya to describe the utilities and the old nationalised industries; indeed any organisation which, like the state, impinges on our lives, whether or not it is owned by the government A most useful word.SIMON TATTON-BROWNBolton. It contains the following elements: Disciplinary proceedings against police officers within their individual forces have to attain a level of proof which is far higher than is the case within industry or other occupations. Has Dame Barbara Mills, head of the Crown Prosecution Service, also been a key member of a "Police Protection Service"? This unofficial feature of our system of criminal justice - at its worst a sort of legal or institutional conspiracy - serves to protect police officers when they act corruptly or even cause the deaths of the very people they are arresting or holding in custody. Useful words from Africa Sir: It's not just India that is still a rich source of new English words (Letters, 26 and 28 July).