CPS Response to HMCPSI Follow Up Inspection of the 2023 Report: ‘The service from the CPS to victims of domestic abuse’, 6 March 2025
His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) have today issued a report after their follow up inspection of the 2023 report: ‘The service from the CPS to victims of domestic abuse’.
The 2023 inspection looked thematically at the Crown Prosecution Service’ (CPS) handling of domestic abuse cases in the magistrates’ courts. Six recommendations were made targeted at specific areas requiring improvement. In the follow up report, HMCPSI assess the progress that has been made to-date.
Over the two years since publication, work has been conducted across the CPS at a local and national level to implement the report’s recommendations. It is encouraging to note HMCPSI’s recognition of the progress made; however, we are aware there is more work to be done to fully implement all of the recommendations.
In November 2024, we launched the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan (DA JJP) with policing which aims to transform how we investigate and prosecute cases. The 2023 inspection report helped shape and inform the Plan’s development, which is grounded in the recognition that better communication between police and CPS, throughout the life of a case, improves outcomes for victims. To expand upon the DA JJP, we are now developing our next DA Programme which will respond to priority issues, new or emerging trends, and address challenges outside of the police-CPS joint interface.
Through these initiatives, we will implement the remaining recommendations from the follow up report.
Inspectorates’ Recommendations / Issues to address
There are two new recommendations, which supersede recommendations made in the original report.. The CPS provides its responses below:
1. Recommendation Two: By July 2023 the CPS to implement a process where, on a domestic abuse case where the summary time limit is due to expire within eight weeks, all communications with the police, including any pre-charge advice or decisions are clearly marked with the relevant summary time limit.
CPS Response:
HMCPSI issued two recommendations in relation to STLs. We are pleased that the inspectorate considers the first recommendation as met. While we have introduced a process to ensure that cases with an STL nearing expiry are marked in all communication with the police, we are aware that more work needs to be done to ensure compliance with this process.
2. Recommendation Four (superseded): By December 2025, the CPS to ensure that in all magistrates’ court domestic abuse cases involving a Newton hearing or conviction after trial, an updated victim personal statement is requested in a timely manner for the sentence hearing.
CPS Response:
We recognise the role that victim personal statements play on conviction in ensuring that victims’ voices are heard and in helping to inform the court’s decision on an appropriate sentence and relevant protective orders. We have implemented a process outlining the need for all up-to-date information about victims to be communicated ahead of sentencing; however, in light of the new recommendation, we will strengthen this in relation to victim personal statements.
3. Recommendation Five (superseded): By December 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to have delivered the trauma-informed training to all prosecutors dealing with domestic abuse casework.
CPS Response:
We have worked extensively with external partners on the development of a new trauma training module which embeds the current understanding of the impact of trauma upon victims, particularly victims of domestic abuse. We are pleased that HMCPSI consider the original recommendation met and welcome their assessment that the developed training is comprehensive and appropriate for frontline prosecutors. The CPS accepts the new superseded recommendation and will ensure that the training is delivered by December 2025.