The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) director of public prosecutions (DPP) Keir Starmer QC is to step down from his role at the end of his five year term in October this year, it was announced today (24 April).

The CPS said the search for a replacement would begin today, with the attorney general's office leading the recruitment process.

"It has been a huge privilege to have led the CPS for the past four and half years," said Starmer. I have enjoyed my time very much and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the important work of the CPS until my term of office ends."

Starmer (pictured) took over the role from Sir Ken McDonald QC in November 2008, after moving from Doughty Street Chambers, where he was joint head of chambers and head of the criminal team.

Founded in 1986, the CPS is the government department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales, and is currently headed by the Attorney General Dominic Grieve. The DPP is the most senior non-ministerial position in the body.

In a statement, Grieve said: "It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with Keir. Not just a formidable lawyer, he has brought sound instinct and humanity to his role, noticeably in the guidelines he has published.

"He has led the CPS through a difficult time and leaves it as a more professional and more effective service than he found it. The CPS is now, more than ever, a key partner in the criminal justice system."

Stephen Parkinson, head of criminal law at Kingsley Napley, said a successor should not be appointed from a member of the Bar.

He said: "The last two directors have had no significant prosecution background at all before their appointment. Yet the core of CPS work is decision-making on which cases to prosecute, and subsequent pre-trial preparation."

"Judges, one of whom usually sits on the appointments board, tend to feel reassured if a member of the Bar is appointed – yet this practice should stop. Instead the emphasis should be on extensive, practical experience as a prosecutor, a significant management background, and a deep understanding of the public sector ethos."

He added there are "a number of people holding senior positions within the CPS" who should be considered for the job.

Earlier this year, Starmer and the CPS were embroiled in a spat with the Bar Council, which accused the government body of deliberately acting against the public interest by trying to keep lucrative cases in-house, irrespective of whether they could be better handled externally.

The Bar Council cited a leaked email which it argued showed how the CPS has adopted deliberate practices not to instruct the best advocate for a given case if it was in the financial interests of the CPS to keep the work in-house.

At the time, Starmer said the CPS would investigate the accusation. The results of the investigation are yet to be made public.