Foreword
By the Director of Public Prosecutions
“Our aim is to deliver justice through independent, fair and effective prosecutions.”
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) plays a unique role in the criminal justice system. We work with the police and courts to bring criminals to justice, support victims and witnesses, and keep the public safe.
In 2025, we published our 2030 strategy. This business plan sets out how we’ll make progress in 2026-27 by building capability, improving casework quality and how we support victims, reducing delays, and earning trust.
We face significant challenges. Caseloads are increasing, our staff are under pressure, and too many people are waiting too long for justice. Reforms are reshaping how we work, and our partnerships across the system have never been more important.
We’ve made strong progress since launching our 2030 strategy. Many pilots and programmes are underway to improve our efficiency and effectiveness, helping us deliver swifter justice. We’ve introduced victim liaison officers and are trialling new ways of working to provide a supportive service for victims. We’re also improving how we prosecute rape, domestic abuse and other violence against women and girls, supporting the government’s mission to halve these crimes.
In 2026-27, we’re reforming our end-to-end processes from first receipt to sentencing, removing unnecessary work and duplication. We’re automating routine work and experimenting with AI to save hours of effort. We’re also serving cases earlier to encourage guilty pleas, and building stronger relationships with police to speed up decision making.
Our exceptional staff are committed to independent, fair and effective prosecutions. I’m confident they will lead this change and deliver the best possible service
Stephen Parkinson
Director of Public Prosecutions