But in his candour, Mr Calvert-Smith acknowledged something else less acceptable. He said that there was a group of older solicitors to whom the culture of greater openness was alien, who objected on principle to the idea of meeting with victims and witnesses in cases.On the same day that he was giving evidence to Parliament, an independent report criticised another aspect of CPS culture. Sylvia Denman CBE, concluded that there was race discrimination and institutional racism which “operated to the disadvantage of black and Asian staff”. The findings followed a series of successful race discrimination cases taken against the CPS, and a decision by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) to launch its own formal investigation into the treatment of CPS staff.Ms Denman said “barriers to recruitment of ethnic minority staff undoubtedly operate in some CPS areas”.

She added that “lack of confidence in internal procedures, fear of victimisation and a record of delay appear to have contributed to race-related grievance not having been resolved internally”.Many managers played down the possibility of race discrimination at the CPS. She said: “When confronted by the statistical evidence, their first reaction was to seek an innocent explanation for the under-representation of ethnic minority staff at senior levels.” Some staff even blamed the victim of the discrimination.So when Mr Calvert-Smith says that his staff need more training in dealing with victims he must not forget the victims of his own institution.. Northern Ireland’s peace rhetoric edged nearer to abuse yesterday when Dr Ian Paisley accused the UIster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, of being “a Provo salesman.”

Northern Ireland’s peace rhetoric edged nearer to abuse yesterday when Dr Ian Paisley accused the UIster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, of being “a Provo salesman.”
The clashes between the two are set to become more turbulent in the run-up to Saturday’s vital meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council, which is to vote on the latest IRA arms offer.Dr Paisley said: “Trimble’s weekend claims that the IRA’s campaign is finally over would indicate that he is now not just a Provo salesman but a Provo spokesman as well. How many times must he be suckered before he faces up to the reality he is being played for a fool by the IRA?”Republican sources said they would not be surprised if Mr Trimble introduced new conditions on the arms issue before Saturday’s Council meeting.Mr Trimble has already indicated that his party’s entry into a new cross-community executive would not be irreversible, signalling that it might leave any new government at a future date. Mr Trimble said: “If it’s not permanent for them, it’s not permanent for us either.” He added: “The choice we face is simple, we can either decide to put the IRA to the test or we can take the seemingly easier route and let them off the hook.”Saying ‘No’ to this will only serve to consign Unionism to the political wilderness and who knows for how many years?”Responding to the weekend’s Sinn Fein announcement that it cannot at this time recommend nationalists to join a revamped police service, Mr Trimble said: “They will not be able to continue to adopt that position in practice in an administration.

That’s the whole point, it puts them on the spot.”Senior Sinn Fein sources said yesterday that the IRA offer to put weapons beyond use was now “at risk” after recent government concessions to the Ulster Unionists on policing and the flying of the Union Jack on public buildings.All factions within the Unoinist party yesterday claimed they would win on Saturday. But Arlene Foster, one of Mr Trimble’s harshest critics, cast doubt on his future as leader if he lost Saturday’s vote.. A British explorer was readying himself yesterday for his most eccentric adventure yet – crossing the Arctic in an open wicker basket slung below a hot-air balloon. A British explorer was readying himself yesterday for his most eccentric adventure yet – crossing the Arctic in an open wicker basket slung below a hot-air balloon.
David Hempleman-Adams, a Wiltshire millionaire who has trekked to the world’s four poles and climbed its highest mountains, is expected to start as early as tomorrow in his 100ft Britannic Challenge after months of preparation and delay in the Norwegian Arctic. He has been waiting in Spitzbergen since March for a “weather window” that would allow his balloon to start for Canada over 1,000 miles of sea and pack ice.He completed the explorers’ grand slam two years ago by walking solo to the geographic and magnetic north and south poles and climbing the world’s tallest peaks.

He said yesterday: “This is the greatest and most dangerous challenge I have faced in 25 years of risk-taking.”Recent ballooning expeditions, such as the circumnavigation of the globe by the Breitling Orbiter, were in pressurised gondolas with heating and oxygen. But such comforts are not for Mr Hempleman-Adams, 44, who has flown solo in balloon across the Andes and the North-West Passage.He is drawing his inspiration from three Swedes, led by the explorer Soloman Andree, who in 1897 made the last attempt to cross the Arctic by balloon. Andree and his comrades, who also flew in an open basket, crashed after hitting freezing fog Their bodies were found 33 years later. They had died of exposure and poisoning from the meat of bears they had shot.Mr Hempleman-Adams is hoping to finish in five days “I could have done this with two or three guys,” he said.