A Press release from the West Midlands Police. The charges against the Dudley Two are dropped.

Gill Casey, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wolverhampton, said:

"When considering whether a case should be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) applies the Code for Crown Prosecutors in two parts. The first is the evidential test where we have to be satisfied that there is enough admissible evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. If the evidence satisfies the first test, then we have to consider the second part – the public interest test.

"In the case against John Shaw and Leon McCreery a preliminary evidential test called the threshold test was applied. This was permissible because they were considered a substantial bail risk if released from custody and not all of the evidence was available to the prosecutor at the time that the charging decision was sought by the police. Additionally it was considered to be in the public interest to commence a prosecution.

"I have now had an opportunity of carrying out a review of all the evidence and have applied both parts of the Code and I have made the decision to discontinue the prosecution on the basis that there is now insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction."

It's a bit gobbledygook (and I say that as someone who was used to the jargon) but it means the police hadn't told the Crown Prosecution Service everything. Now that she has seen all the available evidence the Prosecutor realises there is no chance of a conviction on the main charge which, to remind you, was that of inciting religious hatred. Hence this beating of a hasty retreat.