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The Role of The Crown Prosecution Service

The Crown Prosecution Service is the government department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales.

As the principal prosecuting authority in England and Wales, we are responsible for:

  • advising the police on cases for possible prosecution
  • reviewing cases submitted by the police
  • determining any charges in more serious or complex cases
  • preparing cases for court
  • presenting cases at court

Find out more about the role of the Crown Prosecution Service

Local Areas

The CPS is divided into 13 geographical Areas across England and Wales.

Each Area is led by a Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) who is responsible for the provision of a high quality prosecution service in their Area.

Each CCP is supported by an Area Business Manager (ABM), and their respective roles mirror, at a local level, the responsibilities of the DPP and Chief Executive. Administrative support to Areas is provided by Area Operations Centres.

A 'virtual' 14th Area, CPS Direct, is also headed by a CCP and provides out-of-hours charging decisions to the police.

Find out more about the CPS in your area

Local Area News

Date

Outline

19/03/2013
Wales

Prosecution offers no evidence in Colette Davies case

A man accused of the murder of Colette Davies in India in 2004 has been released from custody, after the prosecution offered no evidence against him at a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court this morning.

19/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Mother and son jailed for vigilante attack - Borehamwood

A mother and her son who acted as "vigilantes" to dispense their own rough justice have been jailed.

19/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Cleaner jailed for voyeurism and sex offences - Welwyn Garden City

When police arrested a cleaner for secretly filming a woman office worker as she used the toliet, they uncovered evidence of his sordid activities going back 10 years.

15/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Man jailed for theft of Wenlock jug - Luton

A man appeared at Luton Crown Court today, Friday, 15 March 2013, and was sentenced to two years three months imprisonment in connection with the theft of a 14th century jug from the Stockwood Discovery Centre in Luton.

15/03/2013
West Midlands

West Midlands Proceeds of Crime Unit are hitting criminals where it hurts – their wallets

In January 2013 the West Midlands CPS Proceeds of Crime Unit (POCU), as part of a major initiative involving Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and West Mercia police forces, commenced a general review of historic Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation orders.

15/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Man jailed for selling his methodone - Kempston

A Kempston man appeared at Luton Crown Court today, Friday, 15 March 2013, and was jailed for three years after being found guilty of selling his methadone to a woman who died after taking it.

15/03/2013
West Midlands

Man guilty killing wife’s friend

A 50 year old man has today pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Warwick Crown Court and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in respect of the killing of David Powell on 5th September 2012 in Jubilee Park, Tipton.

14/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Man found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving - Reading

A 25-year-old man was yesterday, Tuesday, 12 March 2013, found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

13/03/2013
North West

Five Jailed For Burnley Robbery

Sally Brennand, John Williams, Rebecca Greenough, Zak Ward and David Steer have been sentenced today at Burnley Crown Court to a total of more than 27 years imprisonment for a robbery which took place at a house in Burnley on October 25.

13/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Bleeping smart phone leads police to burglar - Bedford

A bleeping stolen iPhone led the police to burglar Anthony Luciano-Persaud who was sitting in a car he had stolen that night.

13/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Robber and burglar jailed - Luton

A Sri Lankan, who robbed a convenience store where his brother had worked, threatened to kill the lone shop assistant with a knife he was holding to her neck. And four months before the robbery Pukenkumar (Pusken) Gunasingam had burgled the home of a fellow countryman while the family were on holiday in Sri Lanka. A neighbour found the family's home completely ransacked.

12/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Man jailed for manslaughter of baby son - Slough

A 32-year-old man has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for the manslaughter of his baby son.

12/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Five more sentenced for Operation Rouse - Milton Keynes

Three more people have been jailed for a combined total of six years for offences in connection with Operation Rouse, an ongoing investigation into the supply of class A drugs in Milton Keynes and its impact on related crimes such as burglary and theft.

12/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Man jailed for biting off chunk of friend's ear - Park Street

A Park Street man who bit off a chunk of a former friend's ear was jailed for three years today, Friday, 08 March 2013.

12/03/2013
Thames Chiltern

Drug dealer jailed - Luton

A drug dealer who was caught by chance had 100 deals of heroin on him ready to sell on the streets of Luton. More Class A drugs were found when police raided Haroon Aziz's bedroom. They were hidden in a safe along with six mobile phones, Luton Crown Court heard on Friday, 08 March 2013.

12/03/2013
West Midlands

Youths who assaulted cyclists are sentenced

Two youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have today been sentenced at Wolverhampton Youth Court for assaulting nine cyclists along a canal towpath.

12/03/2013
Merseyside Cheshire

Tenn murder trio convicted

Three teenagers who battered a man to death behind a supermarket in Liverpool have been convicted of murder at Liverpool Crown Court.

11/03/2013
West Midlands

Man guilty of raping care centre patient

A 57 year old care worker has today been found guilty at Stafford Crown Court of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder by a care worker (contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003), with one of the patients in his care at centre in Burton-on-Trent which cares for mentally ill people.

11/03/2013
West Midlands

Man found guilty of murdering casino winner

A 25 year-old man has today been found guilty of stabbing an innocent man to death in Birmingham city centre in order to steal his casino winnings.

08/03/2013
South East

Woman sentenced for posing as a nurse in Medway

A former healthcare worker has today (Wednesday 6 March) been given a suspended prison sentence, after pleading guilty to posing as a nurse in Medway.