About CPS Direct

As the principal prosecuting authority in England and Wales the Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for deciding what charges are to be brought against suspects in all but very minor cases. CPS prosecutors work closely with police colleagues as The Prosecution Team to build strong cases from the start.

To provide the police with access to around the clock charging decisions, CPS Direct was launched as a pilot scheme in September 2003.  Since April 2006 we have been responsible for providing out of hours charging advice to every police force in England and Wales.

CPS Direct is a telephone and IT-based service, police officers call a national number and receive charging decisions by phone and email. We operate from 5pm until 9am, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and public holidays. In a normal week we receive over 3000 calls from police officers across England and Wales.

 Find out more about CPS Direct.

 Find out more about the work of the Crown Prosecution Service.