Updated: 29 Aug 2024; 29 Jun 2026

It is the duty of prosecution advocate to apply for appropriate ancillary orders or to remind the court of its power to make an order. When considering which ancillary orders to apply for, prosecution advocates must always have regard to the victim, especially the issue of their future protection.

updated: 24 Mar 2025; 6 Feb 2026; 29 Jun 2026

Various statutes regulate telecommunications, television, broadcasting and postal services and create many offences of which those most frequently encountered by the CPS are considered in this guidance.

updated 30 April 2020

This guidance deals with older people as victims and witnesses, not as offenders. It should be read in conjunction with the CPS Policy Guidance on the prosecution of crimes against older people.

updated: 27 February 2025; 23 August 2024; 27 February 2025

This guidance deals with the legal and technical issues that arise when considering offences relating to drink/drug driving. The purpose of the guidance is to assist prosecutors with: selection of appropriate charges, including alternative offences for trial purposes, consideration of relevant statutory defences tools to address common defence challenges.

Updated September 2019

When considering whether to prosecute the CPS prosecutor applies the test for prosecution outlined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors (the Code)

Updated: 31 May 2022 and 09 September 2022

This Legal Guidance is intended to assist when prosecutors are asked to advise on allegations that an offence has been committed involving a doll with childlike characteristics which is capable of being used for sexual purposes. It relates to possible offences of importing a childlike sex doll, distributing or selling it (or having it with intent to do so), or sending it by post. There is no offence of simple possession of a childlike sex doll.

Updated: 2 Mar 2023; minor revision 5 Jan 2024; Revised 26 Feb 2026

This legal guidance sets out how prosecutors should apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors (the Code) when considering any offences which fall within the definition of 'Honour'-Based Abuse (HBA)

Updated: 17 August 2023; 27 November 2023; minor revision 19 January 2024, 7 February 2025

Updated: 20 May 2021

Updated: 12 June 2024; 10 November 2023, 4 July 2024, 22 July 2025