Crown Prosecution Service

What’s the Crown Prosecution Service?

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is a government department responsible for the prosecution of all but about 20% of criminal cases in magistrates and crown courts. The CPS reviews the criminal cases brought by the police to ensure that there’s sufficient evidence to proceed and that it’s in the public interest to do so.

At the head of the CPS is the director of public prosecutions (DPP) who’s politically independent, but accountable through the attorney general to Parliament. The post of DPP was created in 1880 after years of pressure from prominent figures dissatisfied with the existing system under which criminal cases were brought to court only by private citizens employing their own lawyers.

The first DPP, Sir John Maule, had a limited role in conducting cases and was primarily concerned with advising the newly formed police forces on only the more difficult or serious cases. Then the police set up their own teams of in-house prosecuting lawyers.

This combined power of investigation, collation and prosecution increasingly became seen as unfair and inappropriate, and three Royal Commissions eventually led to the establishment of the CPS in 1986.

The CPS now employs around 6,000 staff across 14 regional areas in England and Wales. Almost half of their staff are lawyers. There’s also a virtual 15th area called CPS Direct, which operates 24/7 to provide charging decision on priority cases.

What’s the role of a CPS lawyer?

All prosecution work undertaken by the CPS is performed by solicitors or barristers known as 'crown prosecutors'. Teams of lawyers, with the help of administrative staff, ensure that all relevant facts and evidence to support cases are available for presentation by CPS lawyers in the magistrates' courts.

More serious cases are prosecuted in the crown court by barristers instructed by CPS staff. Even though every case is unique, there are general principles that apply in all cases, and crown prosecutors must make their decisions without any prejudice. It’s their duty to ensure that the right person is prosecuted for the right offence and that all relevant facts are given to the court.

Crown prosecutors advise the police on matters relating to criminal cases. CPS caseworkers assist prosecutors in:

• case management;
• attending court;
• dealing with post-court administration;
• assessing professional fees; and
• liaising with witnesses and other organisations within the criminal justice system.

Why join the CPS?

The CPS offers an interesting and rewarding career option to those who wish to work within the criminal justice system in the UK. With a considerable emphasis on advocacy, the workload is quite different to that of private practice.

With branch offices all over the UK, the CPS offers the usual benefits of employment within a large organisation.

Posts with the CPS are permanent, pensionable and can offer you:

• good training;
• a commitment to equal opportunities;
• options for part-time work;
• job sharing; and
• career breaks.

The CPS has a legal trainee scheme that recruits on a same-year basis. The scheme is open to candidates who’ve completed (or are due to complete) the Solicitors Qualifying Exam or Bar course. Qualified solicitors and barristers can also apply for roles.