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 11 - 20 of 113 results for crime type "Violent crime" & area "CPS"
Michael Cosgrove, 45, had known his partner, Kerry Allan, for a year when he tried to kill her by strangulation.On Friday, he was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment for her attempted murder and strangulation.Today, Ms Allan has spoken publicly about her experience for the first time since he was…
The Crown Prosecution Service has today announced that James Desborough, 39, has been charged with the murder of prisoner Steven Kempster, 65, at HMP Exeter on Monday 15 September.Helen Phillips from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute James…
A youth has today (8 August 2025) been convicted of murdering 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose in the courtyard of a Sheffield school in February 2025The youth (who cannot be named for legal reasons) was also found guilty carrying a hunting knife into school premises at Sheffield Crown Court.He took…
Press ReleaseViolent crimeCPSYorkshire and Humberside
Two teenagers who admitted torturing and killing kittens have been detained in a young offender institution and banned from ever owning pets again.The boy, 17, and girl, 17, who cannot be named due to their age, both previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and…
The Crown Prosecution Service have authorised charges against two more men in relation to disorder in Epping, Essex.Rebecca Mundy, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East of England, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Essex Police to charge a further two people following the…
A man has been given an 18-year sentence after driving his car at a man who had been trying to break up a fight in a street in County Durham.Hugh Holmes, 36, of Tudhoe Moor, Spennymoor, Durham drove a Renault Megane at the victim and James Cowie, 28, of Kilburn Street, Shildon, Durham, in Faraday…
Two more men have been charged in relation to disorder in Epping, Essex.Rebecca Mundy, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East of England said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Essex Police to charge a further two people following the recent disorder in Epping.“This brings the total…
Two teenagers who viciously attacked a 14-year-old boy with machetes on a bus in south-east London have been jailed for his murder.Kelyan Bokassa from Greenwich was stabbed multiple times as he travelled on a bus headed to Woolwich on 7 January.The two youths, aged 15 and 16 at the time of the…
Originally published on 3 April 2025A woman from Gloucestershire has been sentenced to 15 years for the manslaughter of her baby daughter.In April 2020, shortly after the start of the Covid 19 lockdown, Melissa Wilband, 28, was living with her two young children, a two-year-old boy and five-month…
A double murderer who tried to dispose of dismembered body parts hidden in suitcases at Clifton Suspension Bridge has been convicted of the brutal killings of a couple.Yostin Mosquera, 35, was found guilty of murdering Paul Longworth and Albert Alfonso today (July 21, 2025) following a trial at…
Press ReleaseViolent crimeCPSLondon North
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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.
