How the Crown Prosecution Service is understanding and tackling racial disproportionality in our work - our Action Plan
Introduction to the Action Plan
The Crown Prosecution Service sits at the heart of the criminal justice system. It is our role to decide whether someone should be charged with the most serious criminal offences. The decisions we make have a profound impact on the lives of victims and defendants, and therefore it’s vital that fairness and independence are cornerstones of who we are and how we make these decisions.
It is widely acknowledged that there is a disproportionate representation of ethnic minorities across the whole criminal justice system. Comprehensive research has told us that this disparity is mirrored in our charging rates – with ethnic minority suspects more likely to be charged for a comparable crime than white British suspects.
We must do better. We will not be complacent - we will take decisive action to tackle disproportionality and deliver change.
We have, therefore, developed an ambitious action plan which sets out a comprehensive programme of work to tackle the root causes of disproportionality and embed meaningful change across the CPS.
This action plan has been developed collaboratively with colleagues and external partners. Furthermore, the actions we are taking forward have been informed by comprehensive research and independent scrutiny. By taking an evidence-led approach, we can be confident that our work will deliver sustainable change.
There’s a role for each and every part of the CPS to play, and the action plan identifies an organisation wide approach. This plan will enable us to develop an anti-racist culture and practices, eliminating racial bias in our decision-making and working with other criminal justice partners to address race disproportionality across the system.
This action plan is just the start of our journey. We will continue to work with our staff, communities and partners to build on our progress, and to continue to scrutinise ourselves on this important issue.
What we want to achieve
Aim 1: We understand that bias can be present in all our work and consciously address it
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Outcomes
- We identify and understand how bias can manifest in all our work.
- Our people understand lived experience and the impact of race disproportionality in decision making on our communities.
- Our people are culturally aware and sensitive, reflecting the communities we serve at all levels and places.
- Our leaders and managers are role models and accountable advocates for our work on disproportionality.
Aim 2: Fair Application of the Code produces proportionate charging decisions
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Outcomes
- Our Code, processes and guidance ensure fairness by mitigating against bias.
- Our work to address disproportionality is informed by equality legislation and analysis.
- Our decision-making is transparent and open to scrutiny.
- Our Leaders and Managers support prosecutors to make proportionate and fair charging decisions.
Aim 3: We challenge racial bias in decision-making across the criminal justice system
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Outcomes
- We have the confidence and capability to challenge racial bias internally and with external partners.
- We identify potential racial bias in the materials we receive and our charging decisions, through our use of data and digital tools.
- We actively engage our partners in challenging and eliminating racial bias.
- We collectively restore public confidence in the criminal justice system, particularly with those communities who are more likely to be affected by disproportionality.
How we'll achieve these aims
Aim 1: We understand that bias can be present in all our work and consciously address it
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| Outcome | Action |
|---|---|
| 1: We identify and understand how bias can manifest in all our work. |
|
| 2: Our people understand lived experience and the impact of race disproportionality in decision making on our communities. |
|
| 3: Our people are culturally aware and sensitive, reflecting the communities we serve at all levels and places. |
|
| 4: Our leaders and managers are role models and accountable advocates for our work on disproportionality. |
|
Aim 2: Fair Application of the Code produces proportionate charging decisions
Toggle accordion
| Outcome | Action |
|---|---|
| Our Code, processes and guidance ensure fairness by mitigating against bias. |
|
| Our work to address disproportionality is informed by equality legislation and analysis. |
|
| Our decision-making is transparent and open to scrutiny. |
|
| Our Leaders and Managers support prosecutors to make proportionate and fair charging decisions. |
|
Aim 3: We challenge racial bias in decision-making across the criminal justice system
Toggle accordion
| Outcome | Action |
|---|---|
| We have the confidence and capability to challenge racial bias internally and with external partners. |
|
| We identify potential racial bias in the materials we receive and our charging decisions, through our use of data and digital tools. |
|
| We actively engage our partners in challenging and eliminating racial bias. |
|
| We collectively restore public confidence in the criminal justice system, particularly with those communities who are more likely to be affected by disproportionality. |
|
Action Plan - download
You can download a PDF copy of our Action Plan here. This document may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Download PDF