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.

Sign up for a regular newsletter from your local CPS Area

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.

Further murder charges authorised by CPS following deaths of Bristol teenagers

Victoria Cook, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South West, said: “Prosecutors from CPS South West’s Complex Casework Unit have authorised two murder charges against a 17-year-old boy following the deaths of 16-year-old Max Dixon and 15-year-old Mason Rist.

04 February 2024 | Press Release , Violent crime , South West News

Three members of organised crime group sentenced for human trafficking and rape

An organised crime group who trafficked women from Eastern Europe to exploit as sex workers across the South West and beyond have been sentenced following a prosecution by the South West Complex Casework Unit.

02 February 2024 | Press Release , Sexual offences , South West News

UPDATED: CPS authorises charges against four further suspects following Bristol stabbings

The Crown Prosecution Service today authorised Avon & Somerset Police to charge four more suspects in connection with the murders of 15-year-old Mason Rist and 16-year-old Max Dixon.

01 February 2024 | Press Release , Violent crime , CPS, South West News

UPDATED WITH SENTENCE: Violent abuser who murdered ex-partner and disposed of her body is convicted

An abusive boyfriend who murdered his former partner and disposed of her body more than a decade ago has sentenced.

11 December 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , CPS, South West News

UPDATED WITH SENTENCE: Ringleader of multi-million pound cocaine importing gang is convicted

The ringleader of a gang who conspired to import millions of pounds worth of cocaine has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.

07 December 2023 | Press Release , Drug offences , South West News

Cross-county dealers who conspired to sell drugs worth £500,000 are jailed

Eight men involved in a cross-county conspiracy to transport and sell drugs with a street value of over £500,000 have been jailed.

20 October 2023 | Press Release , South West News

Firearms fanatic who built a personal armoury of weapons and explosives convicted

A gun-obsessed extremist who planned to replicate infamous mass shootings and built his own personal armoury of homemade weapons and explosives to carry out an attack has been convicted.

13 October 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime , CPS, South West News

Youth sentenced for bringing knife to school and stabbing teacher

A youth has been sentenced after he brought a knife to a school and stabbed a teacher in the stomach.

28 September 2023 | Press Release , Violent crime, Youth crime , South West News

Former deputy head jailed for 18 years for sexual offences against children

A former deputy head teacher at a secondary school in Cornwall has been jailed for 18 years for sexual offences against children.

13 July 2023 | Press Release , Sexual offences , South West News

GP sentenced following sexual offence conviction

A GP from Somerset has been sentenced for attempting to cause a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

06 July 2023 | Press Release , Sexual offences , South West 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 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.

Follow us on social media

Keep up to date

Accessibility controls