CPS Staffordshire and You

Introducing the Crown Prosecution Service in Staffordshire

In the dock at a magistrates' court

Staffordshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is one of 42 CPS Areas across England and Wales. Our role is to prosecute people in Staffordshire who have been charged with a criminal offence.

In most cases the CPS now decides whether a person will be charged with a criminal offence, and what this charge should be. Crown Prosecutors look at all the information about a case which has been given to them by the police. They then decide whether there is enough evidence against the defendant to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and whether it is in the public interest to bring that person to court.

We are responsible for:

  • advising the police on cases for possible prosecution
  • reviewing cases submitted by the police and deciding on the charge
  • preparing cases for court
  • prosecuting cases at both the Crown Court and magistrates' courts

Each year we handle around 34,500 defendants in the magistrates' courts and a further 2,300 defendants in the Crown Court. Our conviction rate stands at 97% in the magistrates' court and 93% in the Crown Court.