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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.

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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 have created an agreement: the Media Protocol: Working together to support open justice.

Showing 11 - 20 of 23 results for area "South West"

Date format: mm/dd/yyyy
Date format: mm/dd/yyyy

Man who attempted to rape a woman in Cheltenham jailed for four years

A 22-year-old man has been jailed for four years for the sexual assault and attempted rape of a woman in Cheltenham.
Press Release Sexual offences South West

Five convicted of the murders of Bristol teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon

Five people, including four youths who cannot be named because of their ages, have been convicted at Bristol Crown Court of the murders of teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon, who were attacked and killed on the Knowle area of the city in January 2024.
Press Release Violent crime CPS South West

UPDATE: Private school pupil given life sentence for hammer attack

A private school pupil who left two of his housemates with life-changing injuries after a violent hammer attack has been given a life sentence for their attempted murder.
Press Release Violent crime CPS South West

Former Olympian guilty of raping teenage girls

A former Olympic swimmer and trainee police officer, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Games, has been convicted of raping two teenage girls.
Press Release Sexual offences CPS South West

Vandal who targeted TK Maxx during Plymouth unrest jailed

A vandal who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a high street store has been jailed just four days after violent disorder broke out in Plymouth City Centre.Justin Crimp, 49, was identified after footage clearly showed him at the front of the disorder and then throwing rocks and smashing…
Press Release South West

Thugs charged, convicted and jailed within 72 hours

The first sentences have been handed down in the South West for offenders involved in the violent disorder and looting in Plymouth City Centre on Monday.Lucas Ormond Skeaping, 29, Daniel McGuire, 45, and Michael Williams, 51, all pleaded guilty to violent disorder yesterday and were sentenced at…
Press Release Violent crime CPS South West

Murder of Lorna England, man found guilty

A man from Exmouth has been convicted of the murder of Lorna England, who was stabbed to death as she walked home through Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter.
Press Release Violent crime CPS South West

So-called football fan jailed after shouting racist abuse at footballer

A so-called football fan who committed a hate crime after directing racist abuse at a football player has been jailed for nine months.
Press Release Hate crime South West

Protesters convicted of criminal damage and burglary after Elbit Systems UK break-in

A group of protesters have been found guilty of breaking into the head office of an international defence technology firm and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.Stavit Sinai, 38, Ronnie Barkan, 47, Eliza Sarson-Diment, 24, Archie Sadler, 26, Finton Owens, 25, Jarvey Georgson, 26, and Paul…
Press Release South West

Boy, 14, charged with murder following deaths of Max Dixon and Mason Rist

Victoria Cook, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS South West, said: “CPS South West’s Complex Casework Unit has today authorised two murder charges against a 14-year-old boy following the deaths of 16-year-old Max Dixon and 15-year-old Mason Rist.“The 14-year-old, who cannot be named due to legal…
Press Release Violent crime CPS South 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.

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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

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