South West
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the main prosecuting authority in England and Wales. We work in partnership with all agencies in the criminal justice system, especially closely with the police, although we are independent of them. The police investigate crime and our role is to prepare and present cases to the courts.
The CPS has 14 Areas across England and Wales. CPS South West is our Area and serves a population of over four million people. Our local teams work alongside partner organisations in the three police force areas in the South West: Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and Gloucestershire.
Victoria Cook, Chief Crown Prosecutor
Victoria qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and worked as a criminal defence advocate in Hampshire, becoming the youngest associate partner in a 16 partner firm.
Victoria joined the CPS in 2005 as a Senior Crown Prosecutor, was promoted to District Crown Prosecutor in 2007, managing the Magistrates’ Court Unit in Portsmouth before taking responsibility for the Crown Court Unit in Dorset in 2009. In 2010 she gained temporary promotion to the role of Chief Crown Prosecutor for Gloucestershire.
Following a CPS restructure in April 2011, Victoria was appointed acting Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the South West with responsibility for Gloucestershire and the former Avon area, a post she secured permanently in October 2011.
In December 2018 Victoria was appointed to the post of Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS South West.
The Magistrates’ Court Unit prosecutes a wide range of offences where the maximum sentence for each offence does not exceed six months' imprisonment or one year if two or more relevant offences are to be considered. All cases commence in the Magistrates’ Court.
The Crown Court Unit deals with cases involving serious offences, which have to be tried before a jury or where the magistrates’ courts do not have sufficient sentencing powers for the seriousness of the crime.
The Complex Casework Unit prosecutes the most complex and sensitive cases in the Area, including organised crime cases and cross-border crime.
The Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit is a specialist team who prosecute cases of rape and serious sexual offences from across the South West.
Working with You
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the South West is committed to engaging with local communities in order to improve our services and we want to provide a fair service for everyone. It is important that people understand how the criminal justice system works and how we come to our decisions. All too often, people do not know who we are or understand what we do. The CPS in the South West is committed to changing this and having a visible presence. Across the South West, we aim to work with all groups and communities to ensure that new policies adopted by the CPS reflect the diverse society we live in and that our operations are informed by the needs of the communities we serve. There are a number of ways in which we seek to involve local communities in the way we plan and deliver our services.
Local Scrutiny and Involvement Panels
Local Scrutiny and Involvement Panels (LSIPs) are a key mechanism by which we engage with local communities and their representatives. In particular, those communities with protected characteristics in relation to age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, religion, belief, race or sexuality.
The Panel aims to:
- Ensure that CPS South West considers the views of communities in order to identify local concerns;
- Undertake scrutiny of Hate Crime, Violence Against Women and cases of local interest to improve local performance and support victims and witnesses effectively; and
- Undertake consultation with local communities on strategies and plans with specific reference to improving policy, casework, employment and training.
Victims and Witnesses
We are committed to dealing with Victims and Witnesses with respect. We understand being a victim or witness of crime can be difficult and how vulnerable some people may feel. We will support them through the process so that they can give their best evidence at court.
We prosecute cases on behalf of all our communities and want communities to continue to have confidence in their local justice system, to believe their interests are fairly represented and that justice is seen to be done.
Victims' Right to Review
The VRR scheme makes it easier for victims to seek a review of a CPS decision not to bring charges or to terminate proceedings.
If you are a victim seeking to exercise your right to request a review of a CPS decision not to bring charges, discontinue proceedings or offer no evidence in a case please first see our Victims Right to Review page for more information.
For VRR enquiries and applications, please use the Contact page on this website in the first instance.
The South West contact point for Victims' Right to Review enquiries:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0117 930 2929
Please note that this number must ONLY be used for VRR enquiries.
Please note that the scheme applies only in relation to qualifying decisions made on or after 5 June 2013.