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Contents of Charging Reports and the National File Standard

Anticipated 'Guilty Plea' Cases

1A - Pre-charge Report
For charging decision - to Police Supervisor or CPS Prosecutor

Must Include:

MG3 - Report to Crown Prosecutor

MG3A - Further Report to Crown Prosecutor where produced

PNC print of suspect and key prosecution witnesses pre-cons to include simple cautions, conditional cautions, reprimands, final warnings, PND etc.

Include any material that may undermine the prosecution case or assist the defence.

Disclosure schedules are NOT required at this stage.

If Applicable, Include:

MG6 - Case File Evidence and Information (where required by DPP Guidance on Charging v4)

MG11(s) - Key witness statement(s) or ROVI (if visually recorded)

MGDD A/B - Drink/Drive forms

Other key evidence: CCTV (copy only when it is sole evidence to be relied upon, otherwise summarise content and ID offender and/or offence), medical or forensic reports, photographs, documentary exhibits, etc.

Other relevant material: Domestic Violence/Hate Crime incident reports etc.

1B - Post-charge National File Standard
1st Court Hearing

Must Include In Addition to Pre Charge Report:

MG4 - Charge Sheet

MG5 - Police Report

MG9 - List of Witnesses

MG10 - Witness non-availability

If Applicable, Include:

MG4A/B/C - Bail Sheet Conditional/Vary/Security/Surety

MG7 - Remand Application

MG8 - Breach of bail conditions

MG11(s) - All key witness statement(s) or ROVI (if visually recorded)

MG15 - Interview Record (Only to be compiled in serious or complex cases)

MG18 - Offences TIC

Compensation documentation e.g. estimates or invoices.

If ‘not guilty’ plea is entered or case sent to Crown Court for trial, commence proportionate upgrade according to the ‘real issues’ in the case as identified at the Case Management Hearing as at 3.

Anticipated 'Not Guilty Plea' Cases

2A - Pre-charge Report
For charging decision - to Police Supervisor or CPS Prosecutor

Must Include:

(CPS charge)

MG3 - Report to Crown Prosecutor

MG3A - Further Report to Crown Prosecutor where produced

(Police charge)

MG6 - Case File Evidence and Information (rationale for police charge decision).

Plus:

MG11(s) - Key witness statement(s) or ROVI (if visually recorded)

PNC print of suspect and key prosecution witnesses pre-cons include simple cautions, conditional cautions, reprimands, final warnings, PND etc.

Include any material that undermines prosecution case or assists the defence case.

Disclosure schedules are NOT required at this stage.

If Applicable, Include:

MGDD A/B - Drink/Drive forms

Other key evidence: CCTV (copy only when it is sole evidence to be relied upon), medical or forensic reports, photographs, documentary exhibits etc.

Other relevant material: Domestic Violence/Hate Crime incident reports etc.

2B - Post-charge National File Standard
1st Court Hearing

Must Include In Addition to Pre Charge Report

MG4 - Charge Sheet

MG5 - Police Report

MG9 - List of Witnesses

MG10 - Witness non-availability

MG11(s) - Key witness statement(s) or ROVI (if visually recorded)

If Applicable, Include:

MG2 - Special Measures Assessment

MG4A/B/C - Bail Conditional/Vary/Security/Surety

MG6 - Case File Evidence and Information (for information to CPS)

MG7 - Remand Application

MG8 - Breach of bail conditions

MG15 - Interview Record (Only to be compiled in serious or complex cases)

MG16 - Bad Character/Dangerous Offender

MG18 - Offences TIC

MG21/21A - Forensic Submissions

If ‘not guilty’ plea is entered or case sent to Crown Court for trial, commence proportionate upgrade according to the ‘real issues’ in the case as identified at the Case Management Hearing as at 3.

Contested And IO Cases

3 - Upgrade File
Magistrates' Court trial or committal or sending to Crown Court for trial

Must Include In Addition to the Post-charge National File Standard

Magistrates Court Trial:

MG6C - Schedule of relevant Non-sensitive unused material

MG6D - Schedule of relevant sensitive material

MG6E - Disclosure Officer's report

If Applicable, Include:

MG2 - Special Measure Assessment

MG6B - Police Officer's Disciplinary record

MG11 - Other relevant key statements

MG12 - Exhibits List

MG15 - Interview Record (Only to be compiled when relied upon and summary on MG5 is deemed insufficient for trial)

MG19 - Compensation form plus supporting documents

MG21/21A - Forensic Submissions

Plus for Crown Court Trial:

MG11 - All statements including corroborative, continuity etc.

MG15 - Interview Record

Version September 2012

Back to the Director's Guidance on Charging