updated 11 November 2019

Revised: 04 January 2019; 25 April 2024

Updated: 9 November 2023; 27 March 2025

Updated: 8 Aug 2022, 13 Nov 2024, 1 Apr 2026

The criminal law in respect of public order offences is intended to penalise the use of violence and/or intimidation by individuals or groups. This document provides guidance about the charge which should be preferred if the criteria set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors are met.

Revised: 04 February 2019, 28 November 2023, 4 July 2024

The guidance sets out how charging decisions are to be approached in cases involving persons who assist or encourage another to commit a crime. These persons are known as accessories or secondary parties.

Updated: 14 June 2023

The prosecutor has an important responsibility to ensure fairness both to the defendant and the victim regarding the acceptability of pleas and assistance to the court at sentence.

Updated: 05 November 2019; 15 October 2024

Updated: 09 September 2022; 12 September 2024

All Coronavirus-related guidance aggregated to this page on 25 July 2023