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The Crown Prosecution Service
CPS 2023-24 Business Plan

Delivery plan 2023/24 overview

The overview below highlights our key projects and their outputs for 2023/24 grouped by their lead themes and outcomes, as set out in our CPS 2025 Strategy. These outputs are based on planning assumptions that reflect current resources and constraints. This business plan will also contribute to the delivery of the priority outcomes agreed at the Spending Review.

Our People

Strategic Outcome Project Purpose Key Outputs
Our people have the skills and tools they need to thrive Strategic Workforce Systematic and proactive planning to ensure the CPS will deliver the right future workforce capacity, capability, and culture at the right time in order to deliver CPS priorities and its long-term vision.
  1. Outcomes from Crown Prosecutor (CP)/Senior Crown Prosecutor (SCP) campaigns confirmed 
  2. First intake from CP Development pathway progressed to SCP 
  3. Resourcing to support rape and serious sexual offences business strategy delivered 
  4. Strategic Workforce Plan for 23/24 renewed to deliver priorities 

Digital Capability

Strategic Outcome Project Purpose Key Outputs
We are proactive in investing in our digital capability Future Case Management To ensure we are able to run and maintain our Case Management System (CMS) to allow critical business continuity, and in parallel re-platform and incrementally transform the system to meet the needs of the CPS.
  1. Contract to ensure business continuity of mission critical CMS awarded
  2. Project to replicate and re-platform CMS database underway
  3. Highest-priority business changes delivered in existing system, and capabilities defined for future system
Common Platform Delivering interfaces between the CPS and the Common Platform to enable effective sharing of case materials and information, collaboration, and case progression.
  1. HMCTS scope of initial roll-out phase is supported and embedded by CPS, in line with Crime Programme timelines (dependent on HMCTS readiness)
  2. CPS development and testing of interfaces with Common Platform completed (dependent on HMCTS readiness)
  3. Common Platform interfaces launched in line with Crime Programme timelines (dependent on HMCTS readiness)
Digital Case File To improve the quality of case files from the police, by introducing a series of mandated steps, more structured data fields and a two-way action plan to improve collaborative work.
  1. Readiness activities for undertaking model implementation with early adopter forces completed (dependent on police readiness)
We innovate, including with emerging technology Digital Innovation To industrialise our delivery capability and leverage digital capabilities to deliver on key initiatives.
  1. CPS utilising automation solutions to improve efficiency and support operational recovery
  2. New tool to support case review and redaction made available, and iterated, embracing user led design
  3. Witness expenses application launched to digitalise the current paper processes

Strategic Partnerships

Strategic Outcome Project Purpose Key Outputs
We influence cross-CJS change through trusted relationships Operational Recovery Plan To manage CPS recovery to pre-pandemic levels and improvement activities so that we deliver our casework and operations effectively.
  1. Cross-system Crown Court recovery plan developed with Home Office and the Ministry of Justice 
  2. Crown Court Model implemented across the Service 

Casework Quality

Strategic Outcome Project Purpose Key Outputs
The right person is prosecuted for the right offence Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit Operating Model To develop a new national operating model for adult rape, improving our response and performance to rape prosecutions.
  1. New rape and serious sexual offences National Operating Model launched 
  2. Implementation plan produced
  3. Academic Full Technical Report complete
Cases are dealt with effectively Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Joint National Action Plan To deliver continuous improvement in CPS’s response to rape and serious sexual offences cases, continuing to demonstrate through delivery our collaborative working with police, and consequently enhance public confidence in CPS handling of casework.
  1. CPS and Police Joint National Protocol delivered 
  2. Forensic evidence toolkit launched 
  3. Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) interview approaches piloted and evaluated
Charging Model To significantly improve the charging process through a model that requires improved police file quality, removing current inefficiencies and re-work required of CPS and policing.
  1. Rollout of the New Charging Model across all CPS Areas and Police Forces completed
Case Strategy Prosecutors' decisions withstand scrutiny and provide better outcomes.
  1. Action plan developed
  2. Initial assessment of progress against initial baselining completed 
  3. Action plan concluded, and progress metrics reported
The quality of our casework is enhanced through partnership working Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan To create a Domestic Abuse (DA) Joint Justice Plan with NPCC to improve the successful investigation and prosecution of domestic abuse cases whilst ensuring a focus on meeting the needs of victims of domestic abuse.
  1. Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan developed through workshops 
  2. Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan launched 

Public Confidence

Strategic Outcome Project Purpose Key Outputs
Victims and witnesses have a fair experience interacting with us, regardless of outcome VAWG Strategy To create a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy to address cross-cutting themes to improve the management of VAWG cases.
  1. Draft VAWG Strategy prepared 
  2. Targeted stakeholder engagement and consultation completed
  3. VAWG Strategy finalised and launched 
Victims Transformation Programme To deliver a new service model that is tailored to support victim needs.
  1. Cross-CPS victim service model development completed
  2. Victim service model pilot commenced
We are a leading voice in ensuring defendants are treated fairly by the CJS Defendants Strategy Improve outcomes for defendants, including children, with mental health or neurodiversity conditions or disorders.
  1. The volume of cases involving children and their trends of offending identified
  2. The effectiveness of the Mental Health training evaluated 
  3. Evaluation of the Children in Care Assessment and First Time Entrant Checklists completed
We understand how best to serve our diverse communities Disproportionality Understand and address any disparities relating to gender, age, and race in Area charging decisions, and ensure defendants are treated fairly.
  1. Case file coding, analysis and research on disproportionality completed
  2. Accessible composite of research package produced
  3. Evidence-based action plan produced and report published
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