CPS

• the CPS is the main independent prosecutor in England and Wales. it achieves social control by preparing cases and presenting them in court to secure convictions
• S. set up under the Prosecution of Offences Act to ensure prosecutions are brought to the courtroom independently of the police, to reduce the risk of bias

  reduction of miscarriages of justice, and the guilty more likely to be brought to justice
• S. successful prosecutions and convictions

  approximately 80% of the defendants that it prosecutes are convicted in typical 3 months.

  prosecute about 80,000 cases in crown court

  450,000 cases in magistrates court
• W. too many levels of bureaucracy, making them inefficient


  backlog in people waiting for their court dates, meaning prosecutions are less likely to be successful, and guilty people more likely to evade justice
• W. budget cuts


  lost 25% of budget, lost 1/3 of staff

  max hill QC stated that the CPS can not sustain further cuts
• W. failures to disclose evidence

  number of prosecutions have collapsed due to the CPS and police fail to disclose evidence, such as text messages

  e.g. Liam Allen 2018