Foreword From Director of Public Prosecutions
This year’s Annual Report and Accounts is being published at a time of profound challenge and change for the criminal justice system. As Director of Public Prosecutions, and my overriding ambition remains clear: to leave the Crown Prosecution Service in a stronger position than when I joined, better equipped to deliver swift, fair justice for victims, defendants, witnesses and the public.
Every day, our people work in roles where their decisions and professionalism make an extraordinary difference to lives, often at moments of acute vulnerability. I am immensely proud of their commitment. Despite unprecedented pressures, our staff continue to demonstrate a strong sense of purpose and alignment with our mission, even as demand in the system has risen significantly and pressures on prosecutors have intensified. This dedication is the foundation on which all progress rests.
In October, we published our five-year strategy, CPS 2030, which sets out our vision for change. Victims remain at the heart of everything we do. This year has seen further progress in strengthening support, particularly for victims of rape and serious sexual offences and domestic abuse. Initiatives such as pre-trial meetings, enhanced victim communication, closer joint working with the police through Op Soteria and the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan, and greater consistency in charging decisions are beginning to make a tangible difference. While we are clear-eyed about the work still to do, our direction of travel is firmly towards a more victim-focused, responsive prosecution service which is both independent and fair.
Alongside this, the system as a whole is at a critical juncture. Backlogs, rising attrition and long delays undermine confidence and risk denying justice altogether. Incremental change will no longer be enough. I believe we have a once in a generation opportunity to modernise the criminal justice system end to end; aligning police, prosecutors and courts to reduce duplication, incentivise early resolution of cases where appropriate, and ensure that cases are heard in the right forum.
As the gateway to the system, the CPS plays a unique role in the criminal justice system. We are a central link that connects the police and courts together. As such, we can be a catalyst in shaping reform; helping to find the solutions and innovating to realise the benefits of wider court and policing reform.
This Annual Report and Accounts sets out the progress we have made, the challenges we face, and the work still ahead. Above all, it reflects the professionalism, resilience and dedication of our people. I am grateful to every member of staff, and to our partners across the system, for their continued commitment to delivering justice in the public interest.
Stephen Parkinson
Director of Public Prosecutions