Under hate crime legislation, the courts must pass increased sentences where prosecutors evidence that offences have been motivated by hostility towards a person’s race, religion, disability, transgender identity or sexuality.

The region’s top prosecutor is appealing to people from across the North East to have their say on how people who suffer from mental health issues are treated by the criminal justice system.

Robust measures to help prosecutors bring charges against importers and sellers of child sex dolls have been unveiled today.

Paedophiles who think they are grooming a child for sex, but are actually communicating with an adult, will now face tougher charges.

Guidance for prosecutors on dealing with defendants with mental health issues has been updated to reflect growing understanding of different conditions, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced today.

A man has today been given a life sentence for the murder of his partner, more than 20 years after he was convicted for the manslaughter of a previous partner.

The Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division (SCCTD) of the CPS has been recognised today (5 February) in an independent inspection report for its strong leadership and governance.

The International Justice and Organised Crime Division has engaged staff, a visible and proactive senior management team, and is held in high regard by internal and external stakeholders, according to a report published today by Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). The inspection did not look at casework quality.

How the CPS brings criminals to justice is the subject of a series of documentaries which will be repeated on BBC Two later this month.

This summary does not cover every eventuality but intends to outline some of the possible criminal offences that may be committed. It should not be treated as legal advice and is not meant to be an exhaustive account of this area of law.