This article by Keir Starmer, the DPP until Nov.'13, moreorless sums up my views on the subject and may address some of the points raised on this thread.

Imo, the main omission is that he doesn't really touch on the inequalities and benefits between being able to afford to engage a top flight legal team against a run of the mill CPS barrister, but 'though related, suppose that is a whole different topic.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/13/dave-lee-travis-william-roache-sex-cases?CMP=tw...