Further Resources
Practical Advice
Legal Guidance
Practical Advice
CPS Direct Good Practice Guide
Practical guidance for CPS Direct prosecutors regarding telephone-based advice work and applying the Director's Guidance.
Download CPS Direct Good Practice Guide PDF.
CPS Direct Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions regarding CPS Direct practice and procedures.
Download CPSD Frequently Asked Questions PDF.
Charging Flowchart
Step-by-step guidance to issuing charging advice.
Download CPSD Charging Flowchart PDF.
Statutory Areas Table
Lists all statutory Police Areas in England & Wales. Includes Force Codes and those Areas that have agreed to email requests for charging advice (form MG3) and assign a Unique Reference Number (URN) in all cases. Last updated November 2007.
Download Statutory Areas Table PDF.
Legal Guidance
The Director's Guidance
Guidance to Police Officers and Crown Prosecutors issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Includes The Director's Guidance on charging and The Director's guidance on Conditional Cautioning.
Code for Crown Prosecutors
The Code for Crown Prosecutors is a public document, issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions that sets out the general principles Crown Prosecutors should follow when they make decisions on cases.
View the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
Legal Guidance
Guidance for prosecutors and caseworkers in relation to many criminal offences and procedural issues. The Legal Guidance is used as an aid to guide Crown Prosecutors and Designated Caseworkers in the use of their discretion in making decisions in cases, and is subject to the principles as set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
The Legal Guidance does not in any way override the law as stated in statute or case decisions.
Domestic Violence
CPS regards domestic violence as particularly serious - everyone is entitled to feel safe in his or her personal relationships. Following extensive consultation, CPS policy on prosecuting cases of domestic violence was revised in 2004/5. The new Policy was published by way of a public statement in booklet form in February 2005.
Crown Prosecutors must ensure they are thoroughly familiar with CPS policy on prosecuting cases of domestic violence, before handling domestic violence cases.
View CPS Guidance on Domestic Violence