Updated: 10 Dec 2025

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: 20 Nov 2023, 1 Nov 2024; 10 Nov 2025

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

Updated: 20 May 2021

Updated: 30 Jan 2020; 15 Oct 2024; 18 May 2026

Updated: 28 November 2019

The CPS has published a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy for 2017-2020 providing a framework outlining the approach taken to these crimes.