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Graphic showing victim in the witness box. Text reads: Victim's guide: What happens when a case comes to the CPS.

CPS guide for victims of crime

We're committed to securing justice for all victims of crime. Our guide for victims explains what you can expect from the Criminal Justice System.

Image shows two tablet computers, each showing one of the two new guides - one has text saying: 'What you need to know if you are the victim of a rape or serious sexual assault', the other has text saying 'what you need to know if you are the victim of a crime' and 'a victim is someone who is harmed or injured because of a crime'. The text on the graphic says: 'We've launched Easy Read versions of our victims' guides'.

Easy Read guides for victims of crime

Our guides for victims will tell you about the CPS. They will also tell you what will happen if you tell the police that you have been the victim of a crime. A victim is someone who is harmed or injured because of a crime.

How prosecutors brought a Russian spy ring operating in the UK to justice: Six Bulgarians spied on prominent individuals and locations on behalf of Russia - this is how they were prosecuted.

Bulgarian trio convicted of conspiring to spy for Russia

Three members of a Russian spy ring who carried out espionage activity on British and European soil over three years have been convicted.

Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39, were today found guilty of conspiracy to spy at the Central Criminal Court following a trial.

Graphic showing support worker. Text reads: A guide for victims of rape and serious sexual assault

Guide for victims of rape and serious sexual assault

If you’ve been a victim of rape or sexual assault, there is extra support available to help you through the criminal justice system. Our guide for victims of rape and sexual assault explains what your rights are and what happens when a case comes to the CPS.

Your local CPS

The CPS operates across England and Wales, with 14 regional teams prosecuting cases locally.

Each of these 14 CPS Areas is headed by a Chief Crown Prosecutor, and works closely with local police forces and other criminal justice partners.

Find out who’s who in your area, and read more about local cases.

Find out about your area

Cymru/Wales
East Midlands
East of England
London North
London South
Mersey-Cheshire
North East
North West
South East
South West
Thames and Chiltern
Wessex
West Midlands
Yorkshire and Humberside

The Crown Prosecution Service

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales. The CPS is independent, and we make our decisions independently of the police and government.

Our duty is to make sure that the right person is prosecuted for the right offence, and to bring offenders to justice wherever possible.

The CPS:

  • decides which cases should be prosecuted; 
  • determines the appropriate charges in more serious or complex cases, and advises the police during the early stages of investigations; 
  • prepares cases and presents them at court; and 
  • provides information, assistance and support to victims and prosecution witnesses. 

Prosecutors must be fair, objective and independent. When deciding whether to prosecute a criminal case, our lawyers must follow the Code for Crown Prosecutors. This means that to charge someone with a criminal offence, prosecutors must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and that prosecuting is in the public interest.

Victims & witnesses

Being a victim or a witness to a crime is not easy, but with your help, we work hard to bring offenders to justice. Throughout the justice process we will support you and treat you with dignity.

From reporting the crime to passing sentence we explain:

  • what happens;
  • the role of the CPS and;
  • what you can expect from us.
Support for victims & witnesses

Crime info

We prosecute people for hundreds of different types of crime every year. This section gives an introduction to some of the categories of offending that we are asked about most often.

Prosecution guidance

This guidance assists our prosecutors when they are making decisions about cases. It is regularly updated to reflect changes in law and practice. 

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Latest News
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