The Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service 2025-26 Business Plan

Our delivery plan 2025-26

Priority: We increase capability across the CPS

Programme	Purpose	Key Deliverables
Advocacy Strategy	To expand our Crown Advocate numbers to ensure that every Crown Court case achieves the highest standard of decision making, progress and victim and witness care to secure just outcomes	A national approach for Crown Advocates is developed (30 June 25). A new approach to recruitment for Level 3 and 4 advocates is implemented (31 December 25). Campaigns for pupil barristers and Crown Advocates completed (31 March 26).
Continuous Improvement	To redesign our ways of working to remove waste, make our operational processes more efficient and create a sustainable continuous improvement culture for the CPS.	Pilot a different Paralegal Officer model in two geographical Areas which will inform our future approach (30 September 25). Deliver a pilot evaluation to inform a redesigned Early Advice and Pre-Charge Decision process (31 December 25).
Business Centre Review	Establish a new business function operating model to drive efficiency, resilience, and professional development.	For any business centre roles that are not centralised, job descriptions will be reviewed to ensure they are up to date, remain in line with business need and continue to accurately reflect the work being undertaken (31 May 25). A final proposal for the structure of business centre functions, aimed at better alignment with business needs, is developed for approval by Executive Group (31 July 25).
Strategic Workforce Plan	The Strategic Workforce Plan 2030 will ensure the CPS has the right people, skills, and capacity to meet future demand, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen organisational resilience.	The CPS Strategic Workforce Plan 2030 is refined and finalised based on the outcome of the Spending Review, ensuring it reflects any changes to financial and operational priorities (31 July 25). In-year workforce resource demand for FY26 is delivered in alignment with the CPS Strategic Workforce Plan (28 February 26).

Priority: We increase casework quality

Programme	Purpose	Key Deliverables
Case Strategy	To ensure a bespoke case strategy is produced for every case, which demonstrates excellent legal decision making and a clear route to a just outcome, improving our casework quality.	Learning materials to cover the rules of evidence and court craft produced nationally (30 September 25). Local implementation of Case Strategy principles into practice across all CPS Areas and Casework Divisions concluded (30 September 25). A review of our Independent Quality Assessments to ensure they align with best practice in Case Strategy commenced (1 July 25).
Rape and Serious Sexual Offences	To implement best practice arising from Operation Soteria in our specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Units to improve casework quality, embed a suspect-centred approach, and reduce delays	Annual Rape Scrutiny Report published (30 June 25). Revised Rape and Serious Sexual Offences prosecution guidance issued (31 March 26). RASSO Case Strategy learning programme completed by all RASSO Unit prosecutors (31 March 26).

Priority: We reduce delays in the CJS

Programme	Purpose	Key Deliverables
Digital Jury Bundles	To digitise jury bundles across more court centres to reduce delays and improve efficiency	The Pilot programme of Digital Jury Bundles across three court centres: Swansea; Preston and Croydon completed (31 December 25). The national strategy for the roll-out of Digital Jury Bundles developed based on feedback and evaluation of the Pilot programme (31 March 26).
Future Management Information	To implement new management information capabilities within the CPS to improve data and analysis, reduce delays and improve efficiency.	All reports within the CPS Data Reporting team enhanced and automated (31 December 25). A new in-house Data Platform team built to strengthen internal data and analysis capabilities whilst reducing dependencies on external suppliers (31 March 26).
Future Casework Tools	To equip our people with new digital casework tools that streamline operational processes, reduce delays, and enhance efficiency and productivity	A new digital solution to better organise, manage and search case material for large and complex cases implemented (30 September 25). Improved review system for prosecutor charging decisions and roll out to CPS Direct and 14 CPS Areas delivered (31 December 25). Improved user journeys for ‘prepare for a hearing’ service designed (31 March 26).

Priority: We increase trust in the CPS

Programme	Purpose	Key Deliverables
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy	To implement a new strategy that improves the quality of VAWG casework and increases trust in the CPS	The CPS Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy published (30 September 25). Prosecution guidance on ‘Honour’-Based Abuse reviewed and revised (30 September 25). Stalking Action Plan setting out activities to be taken forward by police and CPS to improve performance published (30 September 25).
Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan	To improve the quality and quantity of domestic abuse (DA) cases progressing through the criminal justice system to better secure justice for victims and increase trust in the CPS.	Local case scrutiny panel guidance to support forces and Areas with reviewing and improving their joint handling of DA cases developed and promoted (30 September 25). Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan implemented across all CPS Areas (31 December 25). Joint protocol between the CPS and the National Police Chiefs’ Council for cases involving stalking and harassment to improve the identification and prosecution of these cases reviewed and revised (31 December 25). Domestic abuse charging pilots to support improvements in our work with the police to investigate and charge domestic abuse cases evaluated (31 March 26).
Disproportionality Action Plan	To deliver our commitments in the Disproportionality Action Plan to embed an anti-racist culture and eliminate racial bias in our decision-making to improve outcomes and increase trust in the CPS.	A learning package to support the identification of potential bias in casework and develop the skills of our prosecutors is delivered (31 December 25). Scoping exercise of the use of digital tools to identify harmful trends across cases completed (31 March 26).
Victim Transformation	To deliver a supportive service for victims, ensuring they receive clear, empathetic communication when they need it and a seamless service across criminal justice partners. This aims to improve victims’ experiences of the CPS and increase the number of victims who support prosecutions.	Implementation approach for the Universal and Enhanced Service pilots, which provide additional CPS communication to victims decided (31 October 25). Training on empathy, communication techniques and trauma awareness delivered to all operational delivery staff, paralegals and managers who engage with victims at the Crown Court (31 March 26). Independent evaluation for financial year 2025-26 completed, measuring the impact of the Victim Transformation Programme (31 March 26).

Loading...