CPS

• What is the role of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)?

  Prosecutes in criminal cases
• What historical issue led to the establishment of the CPS?

  Miscarriages of justice and bias
• What established the CPS in 1986?

  Prosecution of Offences Act 1985
• Who is the head of the CPS?

  Director of Public Prosecutions
• What qualifications must the Director of Public Prosecutions have?

  Qualified lawyer for at least ten years
• What is the role of Senior District Crown Prosecutors?

  Head branches within the CPS
• How many staff are employed by the CPS?

  Approximately 7000 staff
• What is the CPS's responsibility in low category cases?

  Police handle charging decisions
• What does the Criminal Justice Act 2003 require for complex cases?

  Face-to-face consultation for decisions
• What happens if the police and CPS disagree on a charge?

  The independence of the CPS is crucial
• What are the responsibilities of the CPS?

  • Reviewing cases (evidential & public interest tests)
  • Charging decisions
  • Preparing the case
  • Conducting prosecutions in court
• What is the Full Code Test's evidential test?

  Realistic prospect of conviction
• What is an example of evidence being held inadmissible?

  R v Paris 1992 case
• What does the Public Interest Test consider?

  Reasons to not prosecute despite evidence
• What factors do prosecutors consider in the Public Interest Test?

  • Seriousness of the offence
  • Level of culpability
  • Circumstances and harm to victim
  • Age of suspect
  • Community impact
  • Proportionality of response
  • Protection of information sources
• What does PACE 1984 restrict?

  Time a suspect may be detained
• How long can a suspect be held for an indictable offence?

  Up to 96 hours with approval
• What is the exception to the detention time limits?

  Threshold Test for charging
• What are the solutions to issues identified in the CPS reviews?

  • Criminal Justice Units for collaboration
  • Split areas into 42 for decentralization
  • CPS determines charges in most cases
  • Race Equality Scheme for institutional racism
• What is the budget of the CPS each year?

  Approximately £567 million
• How many prosecutions failed according to CPS data?

  Approximately 60,000 prosecutions
• What are the key improvements made to the CPS?

  • Casework Quality Standards introduced
  • Vision for CPS by Keir Starmer
  • Addressing institutional racism
• Who is the head of the CPS?

  The Director of Public Prosecutions
• How many geographical areas are there for the CPS?

  13
• What are the two tests which need to be satisfied by the CPS?

  Public interest and evidential tests