Prosecution guidance search

Offences to be taken into Consideration (TICs)

updated 26 February 2020 link for Sentencing Councils Totality definitive guidelines

These include:

Prosecution Guidance Court Processes and Case Management

Perverting the Course of Justice and Wasting Police Time in Cases involving Allegedly False Allegations of Rape and / or Domestic Abuse

Reviewed and updated April 2023

Prosecution Guidance Sexual offences Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Child Abuse

Private Prosecutions

Updated: October 2019; 1 November 2024

Prosecution Guidance Court Processes and Case Management

Relations with other prosecuting agencies and the Prosecutors’ Convention

Updated: 24 February 2023; 17 May 2023; 25 October 2023

The CPS has a statutory duty under section 3(2) (a) Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (the Act) to take over proceedings instituted by or on behalf of the police. However, the CPS also has discretion to take over proceedings in any other case under section 6(2) of the Act.

Prosecution Guidance Media, Public Interest and Professional Standards

Media: Prosecuting Cases Where Public Servants Have Disclosed Confidential Information to Journalists

updated 11 November 2019

Prosecution Guidance Defendants

Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution

Revised: 04 January 2019; 25 April 2024

Prosecution Guidance Sexual offences Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Child Abuse

Psychoactive Substances

Updated: 9 November 2023; 27 March 2025

Prosecution Guidance Drug offences Drugs, Terrorism and National Security

Public Order Offences incorporating the Charging Standard

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.

Prosecution Guidance Public Order and Regulatory Offences

Reconsidering a Prosecution Decision

Updated: 26 February 2021, 25 Jan 2023

Prosecution Guidance Appeals, Reviews and Post-Conviction

Referrals, approvals and notifications

Updated: 31 Jan 2024, 17 Oct 2024, 31 Oct 2024, 5 Nov 2024, 13 Feb 2025, 17 Mar 2025, 17 Jul 2025, 16 Apr 2026, 24 Apr 2026

This guidance specifies the cases which must be referred to CPS Headquarters (Private Office, Director of Legal Services, Press Office); Central Casework Divisions and CPS Proceeds of Crime; Chief Crown Prosecutors/Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutors or Area Complex Casework Units/Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Units for information or for decision making.