Charging
Image CPS staff member talking to police
We introduced new national daytime Charging arrangements to provide real time access for police investigators to CPS Prosecutors for charging decisions for the majority of cases using IT and telephony, whilst retaining face-to-face advice in more serious cases. The improved daytime access arrangements have been in place nationally since 31 May 2010. They provide greater economies of scale; ensure quick and easy access for police; produce faster decisions; and facilitate more efficient and effective use of CPS prosecutor resources.
The performance of the new daytime Charging arrangements is monitored through the Joint CPS and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Performance Standards and Delivery Measures for Charging, developed and introduced during 2010. The Standards complement the Core Quality Standards (CQS).
Between April and October 2010, in partnership with ACPO, we conducted pilots to test and evaluate the return of some further offences to the police to charge under the Statutory Charging arrangements. Based on the findings from these pilots, the CPS and ACPO started the rollout of the new, revised Charging arrangements on a phased approach, with the expectation that it will be completed by the end of June 2011. The revised arrangements will see prosecutor time concentrated on the most serious offences, and the police able to process less serious offences more quickly with a reduction in bureaucracy.
