Code for Crown Prosecutors

Code for Crown Prosecutors 2013

In January 2006 sole responsibility for charging criminal suspects transferred from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in all but the most minor and straightforward cases.

All prosecutors follow the Code for Crown Prosecutors, a public document issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, which sets out the general principles they should follow when they make decisions on cases.

The two main considerations for Crown Prosecutors are whether there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and whether it's in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution. 

Core Quality Standards 

In March 2010 the CPS published a public document on twelve standards which set out its pledge to the public and other criminal justice agencies.

Here in CPS Wessex we take meeting the standards very seriously. Every member of staff is committed to doing their best in every case.

Standard 1: We will provide the police and other investigators with advice to assist in tackling crime effectively and bringing offenders to justice.

Standard 2: We will make timely, effective and fair charging decisions in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

Standard 3: We will use out-of-court disposals as alternatives to prosecution, where appropriate, to gain speedy reparation for victims and to rehabilitate or punish offenders.

Standard 4: We will oppose bail for defendants where appropriate, taking particular account of the risk posed to victims and the public.

Standard 5: We will prepare all our cases promptly and in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Rules so that guilty pleas can be entered at the earliest opportunity, and fair trials can take place on the appointed dates.

Standard 6: We will present our cases fairly and firmly.

Standard 7: We will assess the needs of victims and witnesses, keep them informed about the progress of their case and seek appropriate support to help them to give their best evidence.

Standard 8: We will explain our decisions to victims when we stop cases or substantially alter the charge.

Standard 9: We will assist the court in the sentencing process and seek to confiscate the proceeds of crime.

Standard 10: We will consider whether to exercise our rights of appeal when we believe the court has made the wrong legal decision.

Standard 11: We will deal promptly and openly with complaints about our decisions and the service we provide.

Standard 12: We will engage with communities so that we are aware of their concerns when we make decisions.

To read the Core Quality Standards in more detail please visit our national website.

 

 

PDF Information

In order to open PDF documents you need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. The majority of computers have this software but if not you can download Adobe Reader free of charge here.

Get Adobe Reader

Home » Introducing CPS Wessex

Kate Brown, Acting CCP for CPS WessexKate Brown,
Acting Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Wessex

Welcome to the CPS Wessex website.
I hope you will find information that is useful to you.

Kate began prosecuting for the CPS in 1994 in Shropshire, moving to Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.  She held a variety of positions before becoming the District Crown Prosecutor for South East Hampshire in 2004. In November 2006 she was appointed as the Temporary Chief Crown Prosecutor for Dorset and was permanently appointed to that role in September 2007. On 1 April 2011 Kate became the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for Wessex. Kate is also a Crown Advocate.

Kate was appointed Acting Chief Crown Prosecutor on 18 January 2013.  

John Montague, Acting DCCP Senior Management Team

John Montague, Acting Deputy CCP

John Montague joined the CPS in 2004 after 11 years in private practice.

He became a Crown Advocate in 2006 and regularly appeared at the Crown Court whilst working for CPS Dorset. John has managed the Magistrates Court unit in Southampton and a Crown Court team in Dorset.  In 2011 he became a Senior District Crown Prosecutor in North Hampshire and in 2011 became Chief Crown Prosecutor for Wiltshire.

John has managed specialist units across CPS Wessex, forming and developing the Wessex RASSO unit. He developed a central advocacy unit made charging more productive and effective across Wessex.

John became Acting Deputy CCP on Febuary 1 2013.

 

Denise Meldrum, ABM, CPS Wessex

Denise Meldrum, Area Business Manager, CPS Wessex

Denise has worked for the CPS since October 1986. She started her career as an Administrator covering magistrates' court work. She has had a varied career, working as a Paralegal Officer, Branch Office Manager, plus other roles. She spent 18 months in private practice before coming back to the CPS as Area Business Manager for Hampshire and Isle of Wight in 2002.

On 1 April 2011 Denise became Area Business Manager for Wessex.