Other Guidance
Key Documents
Title
The Core Quality Standards
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 this section
The Core Quality Standards
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 this section and also to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF in various languages:
The Code for Crown Prosecutors
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 - French - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Gujarati - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Polish - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Punjabi - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Somali - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Tamil - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Urdu - PDF |
The decision to prosecute - Welsh - PDF
Policy and guidance by group
Title
Assisted suicide
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases of assisted suicide and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Assisted suicide
Title
Conditional Cautioning
Description
Policy and guidance governing the use of conditional cautions and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Conditional Cautioning
Title
Director's Guidance
Description
Guidance announced by the Diretor of Public Prosecutions on key aspects of the law.
Format
Available online in the Director's Guidance on the website
The Director's Guidance
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
Domestic violence
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases of domestic violence and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Domestic violence
Title
Homophobia and Transphobia
Description
Policy for prosecuting cases with a homophobic and transphobic element and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Homophobia and transphobia
Title
Low Copy Number DNA testing in the Criminal Justice System
Description
Use of Low Copy Number DNA testing in the Criminal Justice System and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Low Copy Number DNA testing in the Criminal Justice System
Title
Mental Health and Learning Difficulties
Description
Policy and guidance governing involving people with mental health and/or learning difficulties in cases and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Mental Health and Learning Difficulties
Title
Prosecuting Crimes Against Older People
Description
Policy and guidance governing the prosecution of crimes against older people and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Prosecuting Crimes Against Older People
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
Victims and witnesses
Description
Policy and guidance governing the welfare of victms and witnesses in cases and further information.
Format
Available online in this section
Victims and Witnesses
Other policy and guidance
Title
Rape
Description
Policy manual for prosecuting cases of rape
Format
Available online in this section and available to download on this site and in Adobe Acrobat PDF
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape - on this site
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape - PDF
Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Rape - Welsh - PDF
Rape and sexual offences manual
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
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
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
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 - PDF
Title
CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Human Trafficking
Description
Following a public consultation in 2010, Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, published the CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Human Trafficking.
Format
Available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF
CPS policy for prosecuting cases of human trafficking - on this site
CPS policy for prosecuting cases of human trafficking - English - PDF
CPS policy for prosecuting cases of human trafficking - Welsh - PDF
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
Legal Guidance on deaths in custody
Title
Prosecution Policy for Football Related Offences
Description
The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service policy for football related offences.
Format
Available online in this section
Prosecution Policy for Football Related Offences
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 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
