The Attorney General has been asked to look into “serious concerns” about the management of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Government Senator and the Premier’s Chief of Staff Wayne Caines, a former DPP lawyer, told this newspaper that several members of staff from the department had approached him with concerns about director Vinette Graham-Allen and her management team.

Several unnamed sources within Government — including current and former staff at the DPP — have also spoken out about Ms Graham-Allen’s management style describing it as “autocratic”.

The claims come a year after former Attorney General Larry Mussenden ordered a civil service review to probe discontent within the DPP.

The outcome of that inquiry was never made public but it is understood that one recommendation was that Ms Graham-Allen’s three-year contract — due to end this summer — be cut short.

“The DPP has been experiencing challenges as it relates to its management recently,” said Sen. Caines.

“A number of staff members have come to me in my capacity as a Senator with very serious concerns. I’m concerned about these problems.

“They are coming to me with concerns about the management and running of the office. I have passed those concerns on to the Attorney General.

“He has informed me that he is looking into these concerns. It is my desire that the Department of Public Prosecutions settles these issues rapidly so that that department can live up to its mandate. The department is much bigger than any individual and every effort is being made to rectify the challenges.”

Although recently appointed Attorney General Philip Perinchief said its not his usual practice to comment on this type of situation, he offered a prepared statement to the Gazette last night.

He indicated questions should be directed to “the Public Service Commission, the Governor, and the BPSU.”

Governor Sir John Vereker, who appoints the DPP director, declined to comment.

Mr. Perinchief also said the aforementioned agencies and officies, “will be no doubt interested in the activities and motives of those Crown employees now in breech of their contracts, ethical and professional standards.”

The country’s chief law enforcement officer was apparently referring to current and/or former staff at the DPP who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity.

They claimed Ms Graham-Allen was a strict boss who failed to listen to her staff, could not take criticism and showed favouritism to some lawyers. One source described the DPP as “the worst environment I have ever worked in my life”. The source claimed certain prosecutors would be sent to Magistrates’ Court rather than Supreme Court if they were not in Ms Graham-Allen’s “inner circle”.

“Ms Graham-Allen did not go to court when the DPP was short-staffed,” said the source. “She’s the one person who gets the opportunity to go on overseas trips.”

The source said one member of support staff left the office after just four days because of the unpleasant atmosphere.

“Another person left after less than four months and spoke about the injustices,” said the source. “How come all the Bermudian Crown counsels are leaving the office?

“Literally, there are no Bermudian males in the office. Bermudians are not given the opportunity if there is a trip or conference abroad.”

A second source said: “What Sen. Caines has said is correct. People have been complaining.”

The source said there was a culture of “I’m in charge, do as I say” from management and lawyers felt there was little respect shown to them.

“It’s that kind of autocratic behaviour,” said the source.

A third source said they left the DPP because of Ms Graham-Allen’s management style.

“She is controlling and she’s not approachable. If you do step out of line, she would come down on you very harshly.”

Ms Graham-Allen, who came to the Island from Jamaica in 2000, directed questions to the Government’s Department of Communication and Information (DCI) yesterday.

Meantime, Sen. Caines who left the DPP in October when he was appointed Senator and the Premier’s Chief of Staff, declined to go into any further detail about his concerns.

However he added: “I believe in every Crown counsel in that office. They are hardworking and they deserve the public’s support.”

After leaving the DPP he sent an e-mail to staff there with personal messages for each of his former colleagues. To Ms Graham-Allen, he wrote: “May God guide your conscience.”

He would not elaborate on the comment earlier this week.