How Can We Help? - Sources Of Help - Criminal Justice - Crown Prosecution Service

When someone is arrested for a criminal offence that does not mean that they automatically go to court and then prison.

The police have to gather evidence to prove that an individual has committed the offence. If the police can not get enough information then the charges may well be dropped.

But who examines the police evidence to decide if a person deserves to go to court or not? That is the job of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The CPS is responsible for deciding whether criminal proceedings begun by the police force are carried through to prosecution within the courts.

Almost all reported criminal offences within England and Wales are dealt with by the CPS. The CPS will advise on and review all cases, before deciding whether to proceed and then conducting the prosecution of cases in the magistrates' courts or in the Crown Court.

 

Aims of the Crown Prosecution Service

The main aim of each branch of the CPS is to :

• ensure the fair prosecution of alleged criminal offenders in England and Wales.
• advise police on possible prosecutions.
• ensure that the correct defendants are prosecuted on the correct charges.

This entails reviewing each prosecution brought to them by the police and once satisfied they can begin preparing that case for court.

If a particular case goes to magistrates' court then the CPS will carry out the prosecution, but if a case is deemed serious enough for the Crown Court or higher, then the CPS will instruct and advise counsel rather than prosecute them.

The CPS also co-operates with other law enforcement agencies to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system.

The Crown Prosuction Service operate under a structure of 42 geographical Areas in England and Wales. These Areas correspond with the boundaries of 43 police forces in England and Wales. Each of the 42 areas is now headed up by a chief crown prosecutor who oversees his own team of lawyers and also monitors the smaller CPS branches within that area.

For more information on the Crown Prosecution Service please use the following links.

• BBC Crime Fighter pages who provide an understandable overview
• Crown Prosecution Service