Nazir Afzal ( above ) has resigned from the Crown Prosecution Service despite being cleared of improper conduct . One of the UK 's most senior prosecutors dramatically resigned yesterday despite being cleared of improper conduct . Nazir Afzal , who led the Crown Prosecution Service ( CPS ) in North West England , was accused of sending a text message to a defendant . An internal inquiry exonerated the highly experienced lawyer , who was honoured by The Queen in 2005 , of any wrongdoing . But he nevertheless handed in his resignation as more senior colleagues insisted his departure is due to an 'on-going drive for efficiency ' . The resignation is a direct blow to Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders who has faced criticism for pursing campaign agendas instead of serving the general public . Mr Afzal proved himself to be an outspoken advocate of bringing to justice those accused of the most heinous and sometimes sensitive offences . This included a move to overturn an earlier decision on an Asian Rochdale sex grooming ring that led to a series of convictions . He said that an over-sensitivity to political correctness and 'fear of appearing racist ' by 'white professionals ' may have stalled justice . More recently he was responsible for the successful conviction of disgraced former BBC presenter Stuart Hall . He also led the prosecutions of Coronation Street actors Bill Roache , who was cleared of rape , and Michael Le Vell , who was also acquitted of child sex abuse . Mr Afzal took up his post in 2011 and led a huge team of about 700 lawyers , legal staff , and administrators . He was responsible for all criminal prosecutions across Greater Manchester , Lancashire , and Cumbria . Earlier this week his staff received an email earlier this week saying it had always been his intention to step down in 2015 . Mr Afzal led the prosecutions of Coronation Street actors Bill Roache ( left ) , who was cleared of rape , and Michael Le Vell ( right ) , who was also acquitted of child sex abuse . In the four-line email , Mr Afzal said there was 'no secret reason ' why he was leaving after 25 years with the CPS . After studying law in Birmingham , Mr Afzal qualified as a solicitor and worked in private practice until he joined the CPS in 1991 . He began his CPS career in central London and has prosecuted and advised on many high profile cases . Mr Afzal was awarded an OBE in the Queen 's New Years Honours List in 2005 for his public service and involvement with the local community . A CPS spokesman said : 'We are continuing to reduce the number of staff employed across the organisation and Nazir Afzal is leaving the Service as part of this ongoing drive for efficiency . 'This is entirely unrelated to any issue of conduct and we are satisfied that there has been no impropriety on the part of Mr Afzal . '
Nazir Afzal led CPS in North West England . Colleagues insist his departure is due to an 'on-going drive for efficiency '