Cymru-Wales
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the main prosecuting authority in England and Wales. We work in partnership with all agencies in the criminal justice system, especially closely with the police, although we are independent of them. The police will investigate crime and our role is to prepare and present cases to the courts.
The CPS has 14 Areas across England and Wales. CPS Cymru-Wales is our Area. The CPS in Wales serves a population of over three million people and our local teams work alongside partner organisations in the four police force areas in Wales: Dyfed Powys, Gwent, North Wales and South Wales.
Jenny Hopkins, Chief Crown Prosecutor
Jenny grew up in Wales and was a solicitor in private practice before joining CPS London in 1998 as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. She became a Legal Manager in CPS London before spending 5 years as a Unit Head in the Organised Crime Division. She returned to CPS London as the Head of Homicide and in 2011 was appointed the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor with responsibility for the Complex Casework Unit.
Between 2014 and 2018 Jenny was the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS East of England Area before taking up her post as the Head of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division. Jenny was appointed as the Chief Crown Prosecutor for Wales in May 2021.
Nathan Fear, Temporary Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor
Nathan joined the CPS in 2016 after more than ten years in private practice. Initially a prosector in CPS London North, he joined CPS Cymru-Wales in 2018. Experienced in the prosecution of cases at the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts, Nathan has been a legal manager since 2017.
He is the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor with responsibility for our work in the magistrates’ courts and the CPS Cymru-Wales Fraud Unit. Nathan has previously been Head of the CPS Cymru-Wales Complex Casework Unit and also has responsibility for their work.
Huw Rogers, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor
Huw joined the CPS in 2004 after several years in private practice where he was head of the firm’s criminal department. He has been Head of Complex Casework and RASSO in CPS South West before he joined CPS Wales in 2018.
Huw is experienced in prosecuting cases in both Crown and Magistrates’ Courts and is the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor with responsibility for our work in the Magistrates’ Courts.
Rhian Thomas MBE, Area Business Manager
Rhian Thomas is the Area Business Manager and has responsibility for the business and operational delivery functions.
Having joined the CPS in 1989, Rhian has assumed several operational delivery roles including the Head of the Area Business Centre, a role Rhian held from the introduction of the Business Centres across the CPS in 2011 until 2022.
Rhian was awarded an MBE in 2022 for her services to the Criminal Justice System.
The Magistrates’ Court Unit prosecutes a wide range of offences where the maximum sentence for each offence does not exceed six months' imprisonment or one year if two or more relevant offences are to be considered. All cases commence in the magistrates’ court.
The Crown Court Unit deals with more serious cases and those likely to receive higher penalties. Our Crown Court Unit includes teams who deal with complex casework and rape and serious sexual offences.
Working with you
Wales is a vibrant and diverse country with a unique identity.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Wales is committed to engaging with local communities in order to improve our services and we want to provide a fair service for everyone.
It is important that people understand how the criminal justice system works and how we come to our decisions. All too often, people do not know who we are or understand what we do. The CPS in Wales is committed to changing this and having a visible presence.
Across Wales, we aim to work with all groups and communities to ensure that new policies adopted by the CPS reflect the diverse society we live in and that our operations are informed by the needs of the communities we serve.
There are a number of ways in which we seek to involve local communities in the way we plan and deliver our services.
Local Scrutiny and Involvement Panels
Local Scrutiny Involvement Panels (LSIPs) are a key mechanism by which we engage with local communities and their representatives to scrutinise finalised CPS casework and also, on occasions, the standard of service given to victims by the CPS in accordance with CPS policy and the Victim’s Code. The feedback we receive through LSIPs helps us improve how we explain our decisions and how we engage with victims and their communities. Some of the cases they scrutinise include hate crime cases where the offender has either demonstrated or been motivated by hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or Transgender identity.
There are three LSIPs. One covering South Wales and Gwent police force area; one for North Wales police and one for Dyfed Powys police. The Panels aim to:
- Ensure that CPS Cymru-Wales considers the views of communities in order to identify local concerns.
- Undertake scrutiny of Hate Crime, Violence Against Women and cases of local interest to improve local performance and support victims and witnesses effectively.
- Undertake consultation with local communities on strategies and plans with specific reference to improving policy, casework, employment and training.
Victims and Witnesses
We are committed to dealing with Victims and Witnesses with respect. We understand being a victim or witness of crime can be difficult and how vulnerable some people may feel. We will support them through the process so that they can give their best evidence at court.
We prosecute cases on behalf of all our communities and want communities to continue to have confidence in their local justice system, to believe their interests are fairly represented and that justice is seen to be done.
We will provide an equal service in the Welsh or English language.
Victims' Right to Review
The VRR scheme makes it easier for victims to seek a review of a CPS decision not to bring charges or to terminate proceedings.
If you are a victim seeking to exercise your right to request a review of a CPS decision not to bring charges, discontinue proceedings or offer no evidence in a case please first see our Victims Right to Review page for more information.
For VRR enquiries and applications, please use the Contact page on this website in the first instance.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (FOR VRR ENQUIRIES ONLY - do not use this number to contact the CPS's Cardiff office - see below): 02920 803966
Please note that the scheme applies only in relation to qualifying decisions made on or after 5 June 2013.