CPS Response to HMCPSI on the on Area Inspection Programme 2021-22 Composite Report 21, September 2023

His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) have today issued their Area Inspection Programme composite report of the baseline assessments of the 14 Crown Prosecution Service Areas in England and Wales.

The report brings together the findings of inspections carried out across all 14 CPS Areas over the past two years to assess the quality of volume casework in magistrates’ court, Crown Court and rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) teams.

This report acknowledges that good prosecutorial decisions are being made across the CPS in all case types, with the Code for Crown Prosecutors properly applied and the most appropriate charges selected. Further, it recognises the positive response the CPS has made in respect of RASSO casework over recent years.

Whilst this is encouraging, we recognise that performance needs to be consistent across all casework strands and regions, and we have more to do to improve the quality of case analysis and strategy, and disclosure decision-making.

As the report outlines, each Area inspection has been subject to a separate inspection report and work is ongoing to address areas for improvement. More widely, the CPS is currently running a 12-month programme to improve our approach to case strategy, during which we will be implementing ambitious change across five key areas:

• Culture
• Engagement with investigators 
• Standards and training
• Roles and responsibilities
• Digital tools

Crown Prosecution Service, 21 September 2023