Updated: 28 Sept 2022; minor update: 20 Sept 2023; 12 March 2025

Formerly Youth Offenders: Updated: 17 May 2023; 13 July 2023; 4 August 2025

The CPS is committed to ensuring that the special considerations which apply to cases involving a young offender are enshrined in its working practices and form part of the training of its prosecutors.

Updated: 23 July 2020, 20 April 2022 4 July 2024

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