CPS News Centre

Criminal cases prosecuted by the CPS are in the news every day, along with a range of issues relating to our work – from violence against women and girls and hate crime, to support for victims and witnesses, statistics and speeches.

To ensure greater openness in the reporting of criminal proceedings, the CPS, the police and media representatives developed a joint protocol for working together.

Here you can find our latest news stories and search for others. You can also find additional details about a number of high-profile cases and the work of the CPS.

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Media enquiries

National, international and specialist media should contact the main 24-hour press office.

Local media should contact their Area Communications Manager during normal working hours.

Two teenagers jailed for life for the murder of Brianna Ghey

Two 16-year-olds, now named in open court as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, have been sentenced to a life term in prison today at Manchester Crown Court after having been convicted of murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey.

02 February 2024 | Press Release , Violent crime, Hate crime , CPS, Mersey-Cheshire News

Man charged following firearms incidents in Liverpool

The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised Merseyside Police to charge Leslie Garrett, 49, of Ternhall Road, Liverpool, with five offences.

05 January 2024 | Press Release , Violent crime , Mersey-Cheshire News

Man sentenced for homophobic assault on Drag Race UK star

A man has been sentenced for a homophobic assault on a Drag Race UK star at a McDonalds outlet in Liverpool.

05 January 2024 | Press Release , Violent crime , Mersey-Cheshire News

Student jailed for murder after running over her partner

A student at Manchester University has been imprisoned for the murder of her partner after running him over.

Alice Wood, 23, was today (Friday 2 February 2024) sentenced to serve a minimum term of 18 years imprisonment at Chester Crown Court.

02 January 2024 | Press Release , Driving offences, Violent crime , Mersey-Cheshire News

Two teenagers who plotted murder convicted of killing Brianna Ghey

Two teenagers who plotted together to commit a murder have been convicted of killing a 16-year-old girl in a park in Cheshire.

20 December 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , CPS, Mersey-Cheshire News

Eighty-four-year old man jailed for life for murdering his neighbour

An 84-year-old man who attacked his neighbour with a spade and killed him has been jailed for life.

23 November 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , Mersey-Cheshire News

Gang who plotted to kill a man but murdered his innocent girlfriend jailed

On Wednesday 22 November at Liverpool Crown Court, four men were sentenced to a total of 173 years in prison for the murder of Ashley Dale at her home in Old Swan in August 2022, conspiracy to murder Ashley’s boyfriend Lee Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, namely a Skorpion

20 November 2023 | Press Release , International and organised crime, Violent crime , CPS, Mersey-Cheshire News

CPS Mersey-Cheshire success in joint police knife-crime pilot

A targeted stop and search pilot in Merseyside is helping to cut knife crime offending across the region.

19 October 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , Mersey-Cheshire News

Woman who was looking after an XL Bully dog that ravaged a child is sentenced

A woman who was looking after an XL Bully dog that ravaged a four-year-old boy in Liverpool has been sentenced.

28 September 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , Mersey-Cheshire News

Lucy Letby found guilty of baby murders

***Letby was sentenced on Monday 21st August 2023, and received a whole life order***

A nurse has been convicted of murdering newborn babies at the hospital where she worked.

18 August 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , CPS, Mersey-Cheshire News

Search CPS News

In-depth - a deeper look at high-profile cases and the work of the CPS

'You can trust me, I'm a police officer' couldn't be further from the truth
How 13 women's testimonies secured the fate of serial rapist David Carrick
How a criminal case works
From reporting to appeals - how a criminal case works, end-to-end.
How we make our decisions
How does the CPS make the decision to prosecute - or not?
Our criminal justice partners
We don't just work with the police - here's a look at our many partners within the criminal justice system.
Transforming our service to victims at the CPS
Being a victim of crime can be deeply traumatic, and for those who find themselves in the criminal justice system the process can feel overwhelming, unfamiliar, and incredibly challenging.

Articles and speeches

Read articles and speeches from the CPS on matters of relevance to the Criminal Justice System

Articles and Speeches

CPS Says

The CPS position on major issues in the news, our response to inaccuracies in media reports and our letters to the media.

CPS Says...

Contacts: National media

Please note that our Press Office is not able to deal with issues or queries from members of the public - these contact details are for accredited journalists ONLY. Do not call this number unless you a member of the press. For all general enquiries, please call the General Enquiries line: 020 3357 0899 or 020 3357 0000 (09:00-17:00, Monday-Friday) or visit contact.cps.gov.uk.

If you are a national or international journalist with a media enquiry, you can contact the CPS Press Office on 020 3357 0906 or email [email protected] (9am-5pm weekdays only).

For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 3357 0906 to reach the duty press officer.

Contacts: Local media

Cymru/Wales
Richard Paull
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 02920 803950

East Midlands
Graham Buchanan
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0115 852 3343

East of England
Gillian Andrews
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01245 455027

London (North and South)
Wendy Wyeth or Molly Barker
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 02380 673873

Mersey-Cheshire
Jackie Rand
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0151 239 6334

North East
Chris Black
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0191 260 4216

North West
Kerry Bell
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0161 827 4705

South East
Cheryl Pendry
Email: [email protected]
Telephones: 01227 655862 / 07876 390054

South West
Gary Cockram
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0117 930 2968

Thames and Chiltern
Angie Patton
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01189 513625

Wessex
Wessex Communications
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 02380 673873

West Midlands
Kofo Baptist
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0203 357 0625

Yorkshire and Humberside
Elizabeth Ogborn
Email: [email protected]
Telephones: 0113 290 2839 / 07500 835186

Our social media policy

If you follow us on social media, you can expect posts covering some or all of the following:

Operational updates on decisions to prosecute or take no further action;
Reactions and statements on trial outcomes;
Policy updates from the Director of Public Prosecutions and other prosecutors;
Updates on media appearances by CPS staff
Content that explains the role of the CPS and how we work
Highlighting of relevant work by our criminal justice partners and other stakeholders

We will aim to be fair and accurate in all the information we publish. We will aim to correct any inaccuracies as soon as possible.

We are unable to monitor social media round the clock. We are not able to engage with all those who seek a response from us due to resources but also due to privacy and the sensitive nature of some of our work. The best way to contact the CPS is through our website.

Please do not try to report crime using social media. To report crime, please call 101 or visit your local police station. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you follow us on social media we will not automatically follow you back. Being followed by us does not imply endorsement of any kind.

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