Prosecution Policy and Guidance
Title
The Code for Crown Prosecutors
Description
Issued under Section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act giving guidance on the general principles to be applied when making decisions about prosecutions.
Format
Available online in the Victims and Witnesses section and also to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF in various languages:
The Code for Crown Prosecutors
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - English - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Arabic - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Bengali - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Chinese - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Gujarati - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Hindi - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Polish - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Portuguese - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Punjabi - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Urdu - PDF |
The Code for Crown Prosecutors - Welsh - PDF
Title
The decision to prosecute
Description
This explains how prosecution decisions are reached.
Format
Available online in the Victims and Witnesses section and also to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF in various languages:
The decision to prosecute
The decision to prosecute - English - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Arabic - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Bengali - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Chinese - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Gujarati - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Hindi - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Lithuanian - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Polish - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Portuguese - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Punjabi - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Urdu - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Welsh - PDF
Title
The Director's Guidance on Charging
Description
Guidance to Police Officers and Crown Prosecutors issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under S37A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Second Edition: January 2005
Format
Available online in the Director's Guidance section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
The Director's Guidance on Charging
The Director's Guidance on Charging - PDF
Title
The Director's Guidance on Conditional Cautioning
Description
Guidance to Police Officers and Crown Prosecutors issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under Section 37A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
Format
Available online in the Director's Guidance section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
The Director's Guidance on Conditional Cautioning
The Director's Guidance on Conditional Cautioning - PDF
Title
Director's General Instructions to CPS Associate Prosecutors
Description
General Instructions to Crown Prosecution Service Associate Prosecutors, pursuant to Section 7A(3) and (4) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.
Format
Available online in this section
Director's General Instructions to CPS Associate Prosecutors
Title
The Director's Guidance on Witness Anonymity
Description
This Guidance must be read in conjunction with the Attorney General's Guidelines on The Prosecutor's Role in Applications for Witness Anonymity Orders. The Guidelines and this Guidance set out how Crown Prosecutors must deal with applications for anonymity under the 2008 Act, and associated matters.
Format
Available online in the Director's Guidance section
The Director's Guidance on Witness Anonymity
Title
The Conditional Caution for victims
Description
This leaflet explains what a Conditional Caution is, when it might be used and how it can help victims of crime.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
The Conditional Caution for victims - English - PDF
The Conditional Caution for victims - Welsh - PDF
Title
Restorative Justice and the Conditional Caution for victims
Description
The information in this leaflet is short and general. It explains what restorative justice (RJ) is and how it can be used with a Conditional Caution. You should read this leaflet together with the general Conditional Caution leaflet.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Restorative Justice and the Conditional Caution for victims - English - PDF
Restorative Justice and the Conditional Caution for victims - Welsh - PDF
Title
The Conditional Caution for offenders
Description
This leaflet explains what a Conditional Caution is and when it might be used.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
The Conditional Caution for offenders - English - PDF
The Conditional Caution for offenders - Welsh - PDF
Title
Restorative Justice and the Conditional Caution for offenders
Description
The information in this leaflet is short and general. It explains what restorative justice (RJ) is and how it can be part of a Conditional Caution. You should read this leaflet together with the general Conditional Caution leaflet.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Restorative Justice and the Conditional Caution for offenders - English - PDF
Restorative Justice and the Conditional Caution for offenders - Welsh - PDF
Title
CPS instructions for Prosecuting Advocates
Description
These instructions are incorporated into every prosecution brief. Any advocate prosecuting on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service will be expected to be familiar with the material in the booklet and to apply these instructions. Please note that this will take you to the Legal Guidance section on this website.
Format
Available online in the Legal Guidance section on this website
CPS instructions for Prosecuting Advocates
Title
Legal Guidance Manual
Description
This is an electronic manual containing 160 sections that are routinely updated. It provides guidance and advice to prosecutors and caseworkers in relation to criminal offences and procedural issues. This guidance does not override the principles set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
Format
Available online on this website
Legal Guidance Manual
Title
Joint operational instructions for the disclosure of unused material
Description
These instructions assist CPS and police practitioners to perform their disclosure duties consistently and effectively. They are designed to provide a practical guide to disclosure principles and procedures, building on the framework of the Act, the Code and the Attorney General's Guidelines
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Joint operational instructions for the disclosure of unused material - PDF
Title
Disclosure: Experts' Evidence and Unused Material - Guidance booklet for Experts
Description
This booklet is designed to provide a practical guide to disclosure obligations for expert witnesses instructed by the Prosecution team. It contains: the Declaration for experts; the experts Self-Certificate; a specimen Index; and a flowchart of the experts revelation process. The booklet has been produced in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers and others. The information continued in it is the same as that in Annex K of the Disclosure Manual available on this website.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Experts' Evidence and Unused Material - Guidance booklet for Experts - PDF
Title
Your meeting with the CPS - Special measures guidance to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses
Description
Leaflet for witnesses who have requested special measures to assist them to give evidence in court.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Your meeting with the CPS - Special measures guidance to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses
Your meeting with the CPS - Special measures guidance to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses - PDF
Title
Achieving best evidence in criminal proceedings: Guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses, and using special measures
Description
Produced by the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office, the CPS, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly government, this guidance describes good practice in interviewing witnesses, including victims, to enable them to give their best evidence in criminal proceedings.
It considers preparing and planning for interviews with witnesses that will be used in court, decisions about whether or not to conduct an interview, and whether a written statement taken following the interview would be more appropriate than a video recording. It applies to prosecution and defence witnesses and is for everyone involved in relevant investigations, including the police, adults and children’s social care workers, and members of the legal profession. This 2007 document replaces the original produced in January 2002 and is the result of developments over the last five years.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings - PDF
Title
Farquharson Committee Guidelines
Description
New guidelines launched in 2002 that outline the role and responsibilities of the Prosecution Advocate. The work is the product of the BAR/CPS Standards Group and the Guidelines build on, and develop, the principles established by the Farquharson Committee in 1986 and are intended to provide practical guidance for all prosecutors.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Farquharson Committee Guidelines
Farquharson Committee Guidelines - PDF
Title
Narrowing the Justice Gap
Description
Explains what the justice gap is and why it is important; looks at some of the reasons why cases fall out of the system; describes what action is being taken nationally and what can be done locally to narrow the justice gap; explains what steps criminal justice practitioners need to take to narrow the gap.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Narrowing the Justice Gap
Narrowing the Justice Gap - PDF
Title
Provision of therapy for vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses prior to a criminal trial - Practice guidance
Description
Practice Guidance issued as part of the Home Office Co-ordinated Action for Justice Programme. The Guidance was published on 24 January 2002 and complements similar guidance for child witnesses, which was published on 8 February 2001.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Provision of therapy for vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses prior to a criminal trial - Practice guidance
Provision of therapy for vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses prior to a criminal trial - Practice guidance - PDF
Title
Provision of therapy for child witnesses prior to a criminal trial – Practice guidance
Description
The CPS, the Department of Health and the Home Office have worked together to produce this guidance which is issued as part of the Action for Justice Programme. The guidance is primarily for the assistance of child care professionals and lawyers involved in making decisions about the provision of therapeutic help for child witnesses prior to a criminal trial.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Provision of therapy for child witnesses prior to a criminal trial – Practice guidance
Provision of therapy for child witnesses prior to a criminal trial – Practice guidance - PDF
Title
Rape
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases of rape
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape - English - PDF
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape - Welsh - PDF
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape - Polish - PDF
Title
Domestic violence
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases of domestic violence and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Domestic violence
Title
Homophobia
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases with a homophobic element and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Homophobia
Title
Racist and religious crime
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases with a racist or religious element and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Racist and religious crime
Title
Disability hate crime
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases of disability hate crime and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Disability hate crime
Title
Crimes against older people - prosecution policy
Description
This document explains the way in which we deal with crimes against older people and how we support older people who are victims and witnesses of crime.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Crimes against older people - prosecution policy - PDF
Title
Crimes against older people - prosecution guidance
Description
This guidance deals with older people as victims and witnesses – not as offenders and should be read in conjunction with the prosecution policy above.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Crimes against older people - prosecution guidance - PDF
Title
Policy for prosecuting cases of bad driving
Description
Public statement that explains the way in which we, the CPS, deals with cases involving bad driving.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Policy for prosecuting cases of bad driving
Policy for prosecuting cases of bad driving - English - PDF
Policy for prosecuting cases of bad driving - Welsh - PDF
Title
Witnesses and best evidence - About meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor
Description
Gives information to witnesses about meeting with the CPS to discuss what special court measures may help them give their best evidence at court. Also available in other languages.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF in various languages
Witnesses and best evidence - About meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor
Witnesses and best evidence - English - PDF |
Witnesses and best evidence - Bengali - PDF |
Witnesses and best evidence - Gujarati - PDF |
Witnesses and best evidence - Polish - PDF |
Witnesses and best evidence - Punjabi - PDF |
Witnesses and best evidence - Somali - PDF |
Witnesses and Best Evidence - Urdu - PDF |
Witnesses and best evidence - Welsh - PDF |
Title
Pre-trial witness interviews by prosecutors
Description
This paper considers the desirability of allowing prosecutors direct access to witnesses in order for their reliability and credibility to be assessed and seeks views on the issues likely to arise from direct contact between prosecutor and witness pre-trial.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Pre-trial witness interviews by prosecutors - PDF
Title
CPS prosecution strategy concerning criminal activity targeting the biotechnology industry and related interests
Description
This document sets out the approach of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to the prosecution of criminal offences committed against the biotechnology industry and related lawful interests.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS prosecution strategy concerning criminal activity targeting the biotechnology industry and related interests
CPS prosecution strategy concerning criminal activity targeting the biotechnology industry and related interests - PDF
Title
Householders and the use of force against intruders
Description
This document summarises the position when you are faced with an intruder in your home, and provides a brief overview of how the police and CPS will deal with any such events.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Householders and the use of force against intruders
Householders and the use of force against intruders - English - PDF
Householders and the use of force against intruders - Welsh - PDF
Title
Guidance to Prosecutors and Managers
Description
Charging guidance to Prosecutors and Managers on football related offences
Format
Available online in this section
Guidance to Prosecutors and Managers
Title
Prosecution Policy for Football Related Offences
Description
The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service policy for football related offences during 2005/06.
Format
Available online in this section
Prosecution Policy for Football Related Offences
Title
Deaths in custody
Description
Explains the role of the Crown Prosecution Service when a person dies in custody.
Format
Available online in this section
Deaths in custody
Title
The Prosecutors' Pledge
Description
Are you a victim of crime? This sets out the support you can expect from prosecutors.
Format
Available online in this section and to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge
The Prosecutors' Pledge - English - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Welsh - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Arabic - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Bengali - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Chinese - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Gujarati - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Hindi - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Lithuanian - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Polish - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Portuguese - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Punjabi - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Russian - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Turkish - PDF
The Prosecutors' Pledge - Urdu - PDF
Title
CPS policy on prosecuting criminal cases involving children and young people as victims and witness
Description
CPS policy on prosecuting criminal cases involving children and young people as victims and witness.
Format
Available online in the Victims and Witnesses section on this website
CPS policy on prosecuting criminal cases involving children and young people as victims and witness
Title
Violent extremism and related criminal offences
Description
This explains part of our strategy on violent extremism.
Format
Available online in this section
Violent extremism and related criminal offences
Title
Low Copy Number DNA analysis (LCN) - Prosecutors' checklist of questions
Description
This checklist of questions should be read in conjunction with the FSS General Statement on LCN DNA profiling.
Format
Available online in this section
Low Copy Number DNA analysis (LCN) - Prosecutors' checklist of questions
Title
Low Copy Number DNA testing in the Criminal Justice System
Description
This provides an assessment by the FSS on the reliability of the LCN technique generally.
Format
Available online in this section
Low Copy Number DNA testing in the Criminal Justice System
Title
Policy for prosecuting cases involving the intentional or reckless sexual transmission of infection
Description
This policy statement explains the way in which we, the Crown Prosecution Service [CPS], deal with cases involving the intentional or reckless sexual transmission of infection.
Format
Available online in this section
Policy for prosecuting cases involving the intentional or reckless sexual transmission of infection
Title
The Offender Management Act 2007
Description
Sections 21-24 of the Offender Management Act 2007 are designed to ensure tighter control of items taken into and out of prisons, as well as introducing options to pursue criminal charges against anyone in breach of the relevant sections of the Act. Sections 21-24 came into effect on 01/04/08.
Format
Available online in this section
The Offender Management Act 2007
Title
The CPS National Standards of Advocacy
Description
The CPS National Standards of Advocacy set out what we expect from all prosecution advocates, whether they are one of our own lawyers or a member of the private Bar.
Format
Available online in this section
The CPS National Standards of Advocacy
Title
The Counter-Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service
Description
Outlines responsibilities and work of the Counter-Terrorism Division and details recent cases prosecuted to conclusion.
Format
Available online in this section
The Counter-Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service