CPS London's role

The main role of London's Crown Prosecution Service is to prosecute people charged with a criminal offence.  Our lawyers determine the charge in all but minor cases. They review the evidence gathered by police and decide whether the case should go to court.

Their work involves:

• Deciding charges on cases for prosecution;
• Reviewing prosecutions to ensure the right defendants are prosecuted on the right charges before the right court;
• Preparing cases for court;
• Presenting cases in magistrates' courts, the Crown Court and higher courts.

In London we have deployed duty prosecutors in 45 Metropolitan, City and British Transport police stations in each of the capital's 32 boroughs and at Heathrow Airport.

They decide the charges that should be brought against suspects, except in very minor cases.

As the largest of the Crown Prosecution Services 42 geographical Areas, CPS London prosecuted more than 134,000 cases in magistrates' courts and over 21,000 cases in the Crown Court during 2008-09.

Our aims

CPS London is committed to making the capital safer. We will do this by reducing violent and sexual crimes, drug-related offences and acquisitive crime.

We also aim to improve public confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system and to improve our service to victims and witnesses.

Our other priorities include making the criminal pay. This year we aim to recover £20 million worth of criminal assets.

Structure

CPS London is headed by Chief Crown Prosecutor Dru Sharpling. She is supported by Director of Operations Lesley Burton, Director, Legal Practice & Quality Assurance Raj Joshi, and two directors of legal service, Nazir Afzal (South Region) and Grace Ononiwu (North Region).

Rene Barclay is director of the Complex Casework Centre. This comprises Special Casework (which includes the Police Complaints Team) and the Homicide Team, who deal with murder and manslaughter cases heard at the Old Bailey.

David Kirk is Legal Director of the Fraud Prosecution Service.

Structurally, CPS London is divided into two regions - North and South (see CPS London Map). CPS London is divided into six districts, each serving specific Crown Courts. The districts, their boroughs and their respective district crown prosecutors, district business managers and borough crown prosecutors are outlined in the CPS London District Map (external).

This site is designed to provide you with more information about the work of CPS London.

For information on the roles of staff and career opportunities in the CPS, go to www.cps.gov.uk/careers/