Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire falls within Thames and Chiltern Area, one of 13 CPS Areas across England and Wales, which prosecute people charged with a criminal offence.

CPS lawyers review the evidence gathered by the police and decide whether the case should go to court.

Responsibilities include:

• Advising the police on possible prosecutions
• Reviewing cases submitted by the police and deciding on the charge
• Preparing cases for court
• Prosecuting cases at Crown Courts and magistrates' courts
• Cases are prosecuted firmly, fairly and effectively when there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and when it is in the public interest to do so.

Caseload:

In the financial year to March 2012, CPS Hertfordshire prosecuted 13,496 cases in Magistrates' Courts and 1,609 cases in Crown Courts. The conviction rate for this period was 88% in Magistrates' Courts and 82% in Crown Courts.

In the first quarter of 2012-13, CPS Hertfordshire prosecuted 3,173 cases in Magistrates' Courts and 387 cases in Crown Courts. The conviction rate for this period was 88% in Magistrates' Courts and 80% in Crown Courts.

In the second quarter of 2012-13, CPS Hertfordshire prosecuted 3,007 cases in magistrates' courts and 381 cases in Crown Courts. The conviction rate for this period was 87% in magistrates' courts and 80% in Crown Courts.