CPS News Centre

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. 

Showing 51 - 54 of 54 results for crime type "Violent crime" & area "North West"

Man jailed for life for murdering football fan
A man has been jailed for life with a 16-year minimum term after murdering a stranger who admired his car. At 5.30pm on 25 June 2022 Paul Atherton, 38, attacked 22-year-old Ryan Harvey and his friend on Central Drive in Blackpool. Mr Harvey and his friends had been on a day trip with…
Press Release Violent crime North West
Four-month-old baby killed by his father in Cumbria
A man has been convicted of murdering his four-month-old son in Cumbria. Dallas Marc Kelly died on 19 October 2021 from a traumatic head injury. Reece Kelly, 31, from Workington, Cumbria, denied any involvement in the death of his baby. He changed his story on the day of trial and pleaded…
Press Release Violent crime North West
Man jailed following hammer and axe attack on GMP officers
A Manchester man has been sentenced for ramming police vehicles and attacking police officers with a hammer and an axe in Timperley and Wythenshawe in June this year. At 11.50pm on 7 June 2023 Theadro Douglas, 32 from Manchester, drove his white van into a police vehicle on Mainwood Road,…
Press Release Violent crime North West
Man given life for murdering partner 20 years after killing another partner
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. Paul Plunkett, 62, was found guilty in 1996 of killing Jacqueline Aspery and today pleaded guilty to the unrelated murder of…
Press Release Violent crime CPS North West

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.

Follow us on X: @cpsuk, Instagram: @crownprosecutors and LinkedIn.

The Crown Prosecution Service on social media

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.

Read the current protocol

Sign up for a regular newsletter from your local CPS Area

Receive regular newsletters from your local CPS area.

Sign up now

Blogs

Learn more about the CPS and read more of our stories on our blog.

Blogs