Directors, Central Casework Divisions

Organised Crime, Special Crime, and Counter Terrorism Divisions

The Central Casework Divisions comprise three discrete Divisions that work in partnership with each other to deal with some of the most complex and serious cases undertaken by the CPS. The Heads of Division report directly to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The three casework Divisions are:

Organised Crime Division

Led by Alison Saunders, Director of Organised Crime Division

The Organised Crime Division, together with colleagues in the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, deals with all cases that are investigated by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). It also deals with 'hi-tech' crime; confiscation and enforcement issues.

The Division has established strong working relationships with key international partners and makes full use of its cadre of UK Liaison Magistrates to assist in dealing with any international issues that flow both from SOCA and other police investigations.

The Division's catchment area comprises England and Wales and cases are allocated between London, York and Birmingham. A fourth Unit is planned and will be opened in Manchester in the near future.

Special Crime Division

Led by Simon Clements, Head of Special Crime Division

This Division is responsible for prosecuting and assisting the prosecution of a range of the most sensitive, specialised and novel cases within the Service. Many of these are high profile and on occasion complex, and they often attract strong media interest.

The types of cases prosecuted by the Division tend to be those that, because of compelling operational and resourcing reasons, need to be undertaken by the Centre rather than the Areas. In some instances this might only be for a specific specialised service required in the life of the case e.g. the extradition of a defendant, or where a case is made the subject of an appeal to the House of Lords.

The Division's areas of work are national disasters, extradition, appeals to the House of Lords, civil proceedings against the CPS, pre-1986 cases referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, cases of corporate manslaughter, medical manslaughter, serious public corruption, election offences and deaths in custody.

Counter Terrorism Division

Led by Sue Hemming, Head of Counter Terrorism Division

This Division consists of lawyers and caseworkers who work together on a varied caseload of the most difficult, sensitive and serious cases involving terrorism, state and international crime.

The areas of work covered are terrorism, race hate, crimes against humanity and war crimes, hijacking and Official Secrets Act cases.