The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales, making operational decisions fairly and objectively by following our Code for Crown Prosecutors, and independently of the police and government. If a case meets our legal test we authorise the police to charge the defendant.
You can find out more about our role on our website here.
The organisation
Over 7,000 people work for the CPS, across England and Wales in a variety of roles. Almost half the employees are lawyers, who are responsible for deciding whether to prosecute cases, and represent the Crown in many hearings in the courts. The rest work to assist prosecutors preparing cases for court, or in other professions including operational delivery, finance, human resources, communications, policy, and digital and technology services. The CPS Board agrees the strategic direction and priorities for the CPS and provides a forum for constructive challenge on proposals and the implementation of decisions by the DPP and the executive team. It plays a key role in ensuring that the organisation is equipped to provide a professional, efficient and high-quality service.
Context
The CPS faces many challenges. most of which require joint working across the criminal justice system to address. This includes continued operational improvement and tackling court backlogs, developing an improved service for victims and reducing victim ‘attrition’, maintaining performance on Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) cases, improving quality of casework, , supporting the delivery of the HMG Safer Streets Mission, supporting the development of the Border Security Command to tackle organised immigration crime, and recruitment and retention of skilled staff (particularly those with legal skills).
Following a review of the senior executive structure, and as a key part of best addressing the above challenges, the CPS has a two Director General (DG) model, a DG Legal Delivery (this role) and DG Chief Operating Officer (starting in November 2024) to provide a balance of support to the DPP on legal and operational matters.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the CPS
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at that heart of how we work at the CPS, both as an employer and as a prosecution service.
We are committed to supporting the principle that everybody should have the same opportunities for employment, development and progression. This should be based on their ability, competence and suitability for the role.
This means that no applicant should receive less favourable treatment on grounds of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, religion, transgender status, family or domestic responsibilities, or working patterns. Also, nobody should be disadvantaged by any specific conditions or requirements, unless it can be justified that these could affect their ability to undertake the role.