CPS News Centre

Criminal cases prosecuted by the CPS are in the news every day, along with a range of issues relating to our work – from violence against women and girls and hate crime, to support for victims and witnesses, statistics and speeches.

To ensure greater openness in the reporting of criminal proceedings, the CPS, the police and media representatives developed a joint protocol for working together.

Here you can find our latest news stories and search for others. You can also find additional details about a number of high-profile cases and the work of the CPS.

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Media enquiries

National, international and specialist media should contact the main 24-hour press office.

Local media should contact their Area Communications Manager during normal working hours.

Senior NHS worker sentenced for arranging to meet a child for sex

A senior NHS worker who arranged to meet with a 14-year-old boy to have sex has been jailed for three years today (13 January 2023).

13 January 2023 | Press Release , Sexual offences , Wessex News

HGV driver jailed for causing death by dangerous driving

An HGV driver has been jailed for two years today (13 January 2023) at Swindon Crown Court after he ploughed into the back of a stationary vehicle on the M4, causing the death of Craig Davies.

13 January 2023 | Press Release , Driving offences , Wessex News

Basingstoke man sentenced for driving at police officers to avoid arrest

A man from Basingstoke was sentenced on 11 January 2023 for dangerous driving when he drove at police officers to avoid being arrested.

Simon Hardy, 37, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Winchester Crown Court.

12 January 2023 | Press Release , Driving offences , Wessex News

Salisbury surgeon accessed dark web for indecent images of children

A consultant plastic surgeon who downloaded a TOR browser so that he could access the dark web for indecent images of children has been convicted today (23 December 2022) at Salisbury Crown Court.

23 December 2022 | Press Release , Sexual offences , Wessex News

Man jailed for raping teenage girl in his car

A man has been jailed for 10 years after he was convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl in the back seat of his car.

19 December 2022 | Press Release , Sexual offences , Wessex News

Gosport man jailed for raping teenager

A man who raped a 16-year-old girl in an alleyway off the High Street in Gosport has been jailed today (2 December 2022) at Portsmouth Crown Court.

02 December 2022 | Press Release , Sexual offences , Wessex News

Man who sexually abused two young children jailed

Danny Richards, 59, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, previously pleaded guilty to 10 offences, including the rape of a child under the age of 13 and assault by penetration of a child.

11 November 2022 | Press Release , Sexual offences , Wessex News

Former prison officer admits relationship with prisoner and wilfully neglecting her duties

A former prison officer at HMP Guys Marsh has admitted having a relationship with a prisoner, which led her to break the law and wilfully neglect her duties over a period of four months.

27 October 2022 | Press Release , Wessex News

CPS Wessex: Successful Hate Crime Cases in August and September 2022

During August and September this year, prosecutors from CPS Wessex secured successful outcomes in a variety of hate crime cases across the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and Wiltshire.

11 October 2022 |

Isle of Wight man jailed for hitting wife with a meat cleaver

A man from the Isle of Wight has been jailed after he hit his wife over the head with a meat cleaver on Christmas Eve last year, causing her a serious head injury.

01 September 2022 | Press Release , Violent crime, Domestic abuse , Wessex News

Search CPS News

In-depth - a deeper look at high-profile cases and the work of the CPS

'You can trust me, I'm a police officer' couldn't be further from the truth
How 13 women's testimonies secured the fate of serial rapist David Carrick
How a criminal case works
From reporting to appeals - how a criminal case works, end-to-end.
How we make our decisions
How does the CPS make the decision to prosecute - or not?
Our criminal justice partners
We don't just work with the police - here's a look at our many partners within the criminal justice system.
Transforming our service to victims at the CPS
Being a victim of crime can be deeply traumatic, and for those who find themselves in the criminal justice system the process can feel overwhelming, unfamiliar, and incredibly challenging.

Articles and speeches

Read articles and speeches from the CPS on matters of relevance to the Criminal Justice System

Articles and Speeches

CPS Says

The CPS position on major issues in the news, our response to inaccuracies in media reports and our letters to the media.

CPS Says...

Contacts: National media

Please note that our Press Office is not able to deal with issues or queries from members of the public - these contact details are for accredited journalists ONLY. Do not call this number unless you a member of the press. For all general enquiries, please call the General Enquiries line: 020 3357 0899 or 020 3357 0000 (09:00-17:00, Monday-Friday) or visit contact.cps.gov.uk.

If you are a national or international journalist with a media enquiry, you can contact the CPS Press Office on 020 3357 0906 or email cps.pressoffice@cps.gov.uk (9am-5pm weekdays only).

For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 3357 0906 to reach the duty press officer.

Contacts: Local media

Cymru/Wales
Richard Paull
Email: richard.paull@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 02920 803950

East Midlands
Graham Buchanan
Email: Graham.Buchanan@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 0115 852 3343

East of England
Gillian Andrews
Email: gillian.andrews@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 01245 455027

London (North and South)
Wendy Wyeth or Molly Barker
Email: london.communications@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 02380 673873

Mersey-Cheshire
Jackie Rand
Email: jackie.rand@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 0151 239 6334

North East
Chris Black
Email: chris.black@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 0191 260 4216

North West
Kerry Bell
Email: kerry.bell@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 0161 827 4705

South East
Cheryl Pendry
Email: cheryl.pendry@cps.gov.uk
Telephones: 01227 655862 / 07876 390054

South West
Gary Cockram
Email: gary.cockram@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 0117 930 2968

Thames and Chiltern
Angie Patton
Email: Angie.Patton@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 01189 513625

Wessex
Wessex Communications
Email: wessex.communications@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 02380 673873

West Midlands
Kofo Baptist
Email: kofo.baptist@cps.gov.uk
Telephone: 0203 357 0625

Yorkshire and Humberside
Elizabeth Ogborn
Email: elizabeth.ogborn@cps.gov.uk
Telephones: 0113 290 2839 / 07500 835186

Our social media policy

If you follow us on social media, you can expect posts covering some or all of the following:

Operational updates on decisions to prosecute or take no further action;
Reactions and statements on trial outcomes;
Policy updates from the Director of Public Prosecutions and other prosecutors;
Updates on media appearances by CPS staff
Content that explains the role of the CPS and how we work
Highlighting of relevant work by our criminal justice partners and other stakeholders

We will aim to be fair and accurate in all the information we publish. We will aim to correct any inaccuracies as soon as possible.

We are unable to monitor social media round the clock. We are not able to engage with all those who seek a response from us due to resources but also due to privacy and the sensitive nature of some of our work. The best way to contact the CPS is through our website.

Please do not try to report crime using social media. To report crime, please call 101 or visit your local police station. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you follow us on social media we will not automatically follow you back. Being followed by us does not imply endorsement of any kind.

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