Criminal cases that the Crown Prosecution Service take to court are in the news every day. This section also covers many issues related to our work, including violence against women and girls, hate crime, support for victims and witnesses, statistics, and speeches by the Director of Public Prosecutions and other senior staff.
Latest news
You can find our latest news stories here and search for older stories. You can also find more information about high-profile cases and the work of the CPS.
Working with the media
To make criminal court reporting more open, the CPS, police, and media representatives created a joint protocol (agreement) for working together. We are currently working on an updated version of the protocol.
‘There is no excuse for domestic abuse’ the Crown Prosecution Service has said as cases are expected to rise during the World Cup.
Stark figures published last year by the National Centre for Domestic Violence uncovered the shocking reality that incidents of domestic abuse increase following…
A 59-year-old man who paid money to sexually exploit young children in South East Asia has today been sentenced to 19 years in jail, with an extended licence of six years due to the dangerousness of his offending.
Ian Wynter, from Loughborough, paid a father in the Philippines seven times to…
Press ReleaseInternational and organised crimeSexual offencesCPS
Being the victim of a sexual offence is undoubtedly one of the most traumatic experiences a person may face in their lifetime. Our message on this is clear - if therapy is needed to aid recovery, there are no circumstances where access should be delayed.
We are fully aware of the fears about how…
A blueprint for prosecuting rape and serious sexual offences has taken a significant step forward today - as new data reveals charge rates for rape have increased to 72.8%.
Quarterly statistics from the Crown Prosecution Service also show rape referrals from forces increased by 10%. It comes as…
Today the CPS has published Q1 performance data which covers the three-month period from 1 April to 30 June 2022.
Notable changes in the data from Q4 2021-22 to Q1 2022 – 23 include:
Charge rates have increased across All Crime, Domestic Abuse, Hate Crime and Rape
All-crime charge…
Fans are being warned that anyone who commits a football-related offence, in person or online, is at risk of being banned from going to the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, as well as the Women’s World Cup next year and the Euros in 2024.
Today, the CPS and the National Police Chiefs’ Council are…
There is no doubt the case highlighted by BBC today is harrowing and we have offered an unreserved apology to the victim for the mistakes we made and the stress and trauma she has endured.
We want to reassure victims of these devastating crimes that the CPS has made significant strides in recent…
Counter-terrorism legislation should not hinder legitimate humanitarian, development and peace building organisations from operating overseas, the CPS has said today.
Specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service have produced a framework of some of the public interest considerations which…
Defendants who refuse to leave their cells for court hearings could be compelled to attend – in handcuffs if necessary – as prosecutors are reminded of the court’s powers in new updated legal guidance.
The guidance, which has been drawn up by the Crown Prosecution Service, asks lawyers to…
A public consultation on updated legal guidance regarding deception as to gender in rape and serious sexual assault cases has been launched by the Crown Prosecution Service today. .The draft guidance reflects the case law on deception as to gender and whether it could affect consent and addresses…
Press ReleaseSexual offencesCPS
Press Office contact details
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 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 [email protected] (9am-5pm weekdays only).
For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 3357 0906 to reach the duty press officer.
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.
Media protocol
To ensure greater openness in the reporting of criminal proceedings, the CPS, the police and media representatives developed a joint protocol for working together. We are currently in the process of updating the protocol.
