Introducing CPS Derbyshire

Derbyshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is one of 42 CPS Areas across England and Wales. Our role is to prosecute people in Derbyshire who have been charged with a criminal offence.

Our lawyers review the evidence gathered by the police and decide whether the case should go to court.

We prosecute cases firmly, fairly and effectively when there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and when it is in the public interest to do so.

We are responsible for:

• advising the police on possible prosecutions
• reviewing cases submitted by the police and deciding on the charge
• preparing cases for court
• prosecuting cases at both the Crown Court and magistrates courts

Each year we deal with approximately 25,000 cases in the county's four magistrates' courts and a further 2,500 cases in the Crown Court. Our conviction rate stands at 95% in the Crown Court and 97% in the magistrates' courts.

To handle this number of cases we employ a total of 105 staff and operate within our budget of some £6.5 million.