Referral criteria

  • Substantial and complex fraud
  • Large scale human trafficking
  • Serious drug related offences involving substantial importation, manufacture or supply, particularly with an international dimension
  • Major targeted local criminals in organised or international crime
  • Serial sexual assault where there has been a protracted investigation
  • Large scale child abuse, abduction or paedophile abuse cases involving multi generational abuse of several victims
  • Major large scale public disorder offences of a political, racial or religious nature, or which cause particular local concern
  • Complex / serious cases involving professional misconduct
  • Hate related murders
  • Mercy killings / aiding and abetting suicide
  • High profile / multi victim / multi defendant murders
  • Serious / complex Animal rights extremism cases especially across several police force areas
  • Complex restraint and confiscation of assetsRape offences involving unusual violence or repeated attacks
  • Cases involving complicated public interest immunity (PII) issues
  •  Complicated betting / lotteries cases
  •  Sensitive, serious or complex cases of major media interest e.g. allegations involving individuals or organisations with a high public profile
  • Cases requiring consideration of gross negligence manslaughter and any case involving a fatality in which the investigation is being conducted in accordance with the Deaths at Work protocol (but note that cases of corporate manslaughter are currently dealt with in the Special Crime Division in HQ)
  • Outgoing European Arrest Warrant cases i.e. where the Area is seeking the return of a suspect from abroad
  • Mutual Legal Assistance by vetting proposed letters of request (LORs)
  • Cases where consideration is being given to issues of immunity and restricted use agreements under Serious Organised Crime Act (SOCA) 05 (but not in relation to approving a letter of agreement with a co-operating defendant)
  •  All cases involving the negotiation of jurisdiction with the USA

Home » Who we are » Complex Casework Unit

South West Complex Casework Unit

The CPS set up Complex Casework Units (CCUs) in 2008 to help us deal more effectively with major cases, working closely with the police and other law enforcement agencies to disrupt and prosecute organised crime. A national template was created for the new units and there is now a CCU in 14 out of the 15 CPS Groups with separate arrangements for London. Funding comes from each Area within the Group.

The national template sets out the mandatory security arrangements for CCUs, with a heightened level of security and vetting; this protects all staff, not just those working in the CCU.

The South West CCU works with the police in Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and Gloucestershire. It was set up in Bristol in April 2007 and follows the national template in its casework remit.

Cases come into the CCU by a variety of routes. Police dealing with serious and organised crime refer cases directly to the CCU at an early stage, often at the very inception of an investigation when target criminals are identified. Sometimes these investigations lead to prosecutions which can be handled most appropriately back in the originating Area; others remain with the CCU throughout.

Other cases are identified by individual CPS lawyers working in other teams who then refer them to the CCU.