Introducing CPS Bedfordshire

Chief Crown Prosecutor Richard Newcombe

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Bedfordshire is one of 42 CPS Areas across England and Wales who 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 April 2009, CPS Bedfordshire prosecuted 8,752 cases in magistrates' courts and 968 cases in Crown Courts. The conviction rate for this period was 87.4% in magistrates' courts and 83.3% in Crown Courts.