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CPS Prosecution Guidance

AI-generated plain-English digests of Crown Prosecution Service legal guidance, linked to the source — not verbatim; verify against cps.gov.uk.

The Crown Prosecution Service publishes legal guidance setting out how offences are charged and prosecuted in England & Wales. We digest 250 of these into plain English — each links to the full guidance on cps.gov.uk. Last refreshed: 2026-07-19.

'Honour'-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage: Guidance on Identifying and Flagging cases 'Honour'-Based abuse, Forced Marriage, and harmful practices Abuse of Process Allocation, Sending and Committal for Sentence Ancillary Orders related prosecution guidance Appeals – Prosecution Rights Appeals related prosecution guidance Appeals to the Administrative Court Appeals to the Court of Appeal Appeals to the Supreme Court Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 Assistance Provided by Offenders Attorney General's Reference on a Point of Law Bereaved Families - Guidance on CPS service to bereaved families in homicide cases Bribery Act 2010: Joint Prosecution Guidance of The Director of the Serious Fraud Office and The Director of Public Prosecutions Child Abuse (non-sexual)Child Sexual Abuse: Guidelines on Prosecuting Cases of Child Sexual Abuse Children as Suspects and Defendants Community Impact Statements Community Impact Statements and their use in Hate Crime cases Computer Misuse Act Prosecution Guidance Consents to Prosecute Contempt of Court Controlling or Coercive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship Coronavirus – Regulations affecting Hospitality from 18 September 2020 Coronavirus related prosecution guidance Coronavirus: Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 Coronavirus: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 Coronavirus: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020 Coronavirus: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 Coronavirus: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) (England) Regulations 2020 Coronavirus: Interim CPS Case Review Guidance – Application of the Public Interest Covid-19 crisis response Coronavirus: Interim CPS Charging Protocol between the National Police Chiefs' Council and Crown Prosecution Service Coronavirus: Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association Coronavirus: Local Coronavirus Regulations Tier 1 Coronavirus: Local Coronavirus Regulations Tier 2 Coronavirus: Local Coronavirus Regulations Tier 3 Coronavirus: National restrictions on movement, gatherings and businesses (No.4 Regs)Coronavirus: Self-Isolation Regulations Coronavirus: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) Regulations 2020 Coroners Corporate Prosecutions Costs Costs - Annex 1 Costs - Annex 3a County Lines Offending COVID 19 and Custody Time Limit Extensions in cases that will not result in a substantial custodial sentence CPS Policy on claiming costs in extradition cases CPS Prosecution Guidance CPS Prosecution Guidance on Bail CPS Prosecution Guidance on Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations CPS Prosecution Guidance on Corporate Manslaughter CPS Prosecution Guidance on Female Genital Mutilation CPS Prosecution Guidance on Immigration Offences CPS Prosecution Guidance: Appeals - Criminal Cases Review Commission CPS Prosecution Guidance: Domestic Abuse CPS Prosecution Guidance: Proceeds of Crime Criminal allegations made against the police Criminal Behaviour Orders Criminal Behaviour Orders - Annex E Criminal Behaviour Orders - Annex G Criminal Behaviour Orders - Annex J Criminal Behaviour Orders - Annex K Criminal Behaviour Orders - Annex L Custody Time Limit - Notice of Application to Extend Custody Time Limit Calculator and Ready Reckoner Custody Time Limits Cybercrime - prosecution guidance Dangerous Dog Offences Deaths in Custody, including following contact with the police Deceased Suspects - CPS Policy on Charging Decisions Defendant’s Refusal to Attend Court Deferred Prosecution Agreements - Code of Practice DG6 Desktop Guide Diplomatic Immunity and Diplomatic Premises Director’s Guidance on Charging, sixth edition, December 2020, incorporating the National File Standard Disability Hate Crime and other crimes against disabled people - prosecution guidance Disclosure - A guide to 'reasonable lines of enquiry' and communications evidence Disclosure - Guidelines on Communications Evidence Disclosure Manual Disclosure Manual: Annex A - Examples of Unused Material Disclosure Manual: Annex B - An Explanatory Note on the Principles and Procedures relating to Third Parties under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the Disclosure of Material in their Possession Disclosure Manual: Annex C - Sensitive Material - Additional Guidance Disclosure Manual: Annex C1 - Sensitive Material and PII Applications Flowchart Disclosure Manual: Annex D - The Use of Keyword Searches and Digital Evidence Recovery Officers Disclosure Manual: Chapter 1 - Introduction Disclosure Manual: Chapter 10 - The Disclosure Officer's Report Disclosure Manual: Chapter 11 – Revelation to the prosecutor Disclosure Manual: Chapter 12 - Applying the Disclosure Test Disclosure Manual: Chapter 13 - Making a PII Application Disclosure Manual: Chapter 14 - Continuing Duty to Review Disclosure Disclosure Manual: Chapter 15 - Defence Disclosure Disclosure Manual: Chapter 16 - Defence Applications for Further Disclosure Disclosure Manual: Chapter 17 - File and Information Management Disclosure Manual: Chapter 18 - Revelation and Disclosure of Police Misconduct Disclosure Manual: Chapter 19 – Operational debriefs Disclosure Manual: Chapter 2 - General Duties of Disclosure Outside the CPIA 1996 Disclosure Manual: Chapter 20 - Victim Communication and Liaison Disclosure Manual: Chapter 21 - Disclosure in confiscation proceedings Disclosure Manual: Chapter 22 - Scientific Support Material: Finger-marks and Photographs Disclosure Manual: Chapter 23 - Disclosure of Unused Forensic Science Material Disclosure Manual: Chapter 24 - Security of Sensitive Material Schedules and Unused Material Disclosure Manual: Chapter 25 - Disclosure of CHIS Material and the Involvement or Identity of a CHIS Disclosure Manual: Chapter 26 - Dealing with Surveillance Authorisations Disclosure Manual: Chapter 27 - Dealing with Intercept Product Disclosure Manual: Chapter 28 - Operational Reviews Disclosure Manual: Chapter 29 - Large Scale Case Administration Disclosure Manual: Chapter 3 - Roles and Responsibilities Disclosure Manual: Chapter 30 - Digital Material Disclosure Manual: Chapter 31 - Cases Using Holmes Disclosure Manual: Chapter 32 - Co-ordination of Disclosure Issues involving Multiple Police Force and Multiple Agency Investigations Within the UK Disclosure Manual: Chapter 33 - Access to and Handling Highly Sensitive Third-Party Material Disclosure Manual: Chapter 34 - Handling National Security Related Claims for Public Interest Immunity Disclosure Manual: Chapter 35 - International Disclosure Issues Disclosure Manual: Chapter 36 - Expert Witnesses - Prosecution Disclosure Obligations Disclosure Manual: Chapter 37 - Guidance on Dealing with Current and Past Cases where the Competence and/or Credibility of an Expert is in Doubt Disclosure Manual: Chapter 38 - Guidance on Dealing with Disclosure involving Protected Person Material Disclosure Manual: Chapter 4 - Relevance, Recording and Retention Disclosure Manual: Chapter 5 - Reasonable Lines of Enquiry and Third Parties Disclosure Manual: Chapter 6 - Scheduling Disclosure Manual: Chapter 7 - The Non-Sensitive Material Schedule Disclosure Manual: Chapter 8 - The Sensitive Material Schedule Disclosure Manual: Chapter 9 - Highly Sensitive and CHIS Material Disclosure of Material to Third Parties Disclosure of Previous Convictions of Prosecution Witnesses Disclosure related prosecution guidance Disclosure, National Standards Disclosure: Streamlined Summary Disclosure Dishonesty Related Prosecution Guidance DPP's Investigatory Powers Drafting the Indictment Education - Department for Education Prosecutions Election Offences Exhibits - CPS Prosecution Guidance Expert Evidence Expert Guidance on Disclosure, Unused Material and Case Management Expert Related Prosecution Guidance Expert Witnesses - how to find one Explosives Extradition - From the UK Extradition - To the UK Farquharson Guidelines: Role of Prosecuting Advocates Firearms Prosecution Guidance Football Related Offences and Football Banning Orders Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 and the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice 2023 Fraud Act 2006 Gang Related Offences - Decision Making Gross Negligence Manslaughter Handcuffing of Defendants Hare Coursing Hate Crime: Charging allegations of Hate Crime - Prosecution Guidance Hearings in Private (‘In Camera’)Hearsay Homicide: Murder, manslaughter, infanticide and causing or allowing the death or serious injury of a child or vulnerable adult Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic Hate Crime - Prosecution Guidance Humanitarian, Development and Peacebuilding Work Overseas Hunting Act 2004 Prosecution Guidance Indecent and Prohibited Images of Children Intentional or Reckless Sexual Transmission of Infection Joint Investigation Teams Judicial Comments Judicial Independence and Out of Court Discussions Judicial Review of CPS Prosecuting Decisions (Appeals)Jury Vetting Knife and Other Weapons Offences Media: Assessing the Public Interest in Cases Affecting the Media Media: Prosecuting Cases Where Public Servants Have Disclosed Confidential Information to Journalists Mental Health: Suspects and Defendants Mental Health: Victims and Witnesses Misconduct in Public Office Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking: Offences and Defences, Including Section 45 Defence Money Laundering Offences Nominal Penalty - cases where this is likely Non-Jury Trials Offences against the Person, incorporating the Charging Standard Offences during Protests, Demonstrations or Campaigns Offences Involving Domestic and Captive Animals Offences to be taken into Consideration (TICs)Older People: Prosecuting Crimes against Online Child Abuse Activist Groups on the Internet Out of Court Resolutions Perverting the Course of Justice and Wasting Police Time in Cases involving Allegedly False Allegations of Rape and / or Domestic Abuse Pre-Trial Therapy Pre-Trial Therapy - Accompanying note for therapists Prison-related Offences Private Prosecutions Prosecuting Welfare and Health Fraud Cases Prosecution Guidance on Communications Offences Prosecution Guidance on Drug Offences Prosecution Guidance on Inquiries and Reviews: Statutory and Independent Child and Adult Safeguarding Prosecution Guidance on International Cooperation Prosecution Guidance on Jurisdiction Prosecution Guidance on Obscene Publications Prosecution Guidance on Victims, Witnesses and Community Impact Prosecution Guidance: Live Links in Criminal Courts Prosecution Guidance: Strangulation and Suffocation Prostitution and Exploitation of Prostitution Protests - Potential offences during protests, demonstrations, or campaigns - Annex A Psychoactive Substances Psychological Evidence Toolkit - A Guide for Crown Prosecutors Public Justice Offences Public Order Offences incorporating the Charging Standard Racist and Religious Hate Crime - Prosecution Guidance Rape and Sexual Offences Prosecution Guidance - Full Page Version Rape counts, linked to murder, left to lie on file Re-trials Reconsidering a Prosecution Decision Referrals, approvals and notifications Relations with other prosecuting agencies and the Prosecutors’ Convention Restraining Orders Retrial of Serious Offences Reviewing Finalised Cases Road Traffic - Drink and Drug Driving Road Traffic - Fatal Offences and Bad Driving Road Traffic - Summary Offences Road Traffic related prosecution guidance Safeguarding Children as Victims and Witnesses Same sex sexual violence and sexual violence involving a trans complainant or suspect/defendant - Toolkit for Prosecutors Secondary Liability: charging decisions on principals and accessories Sentencing - Ancillary Orders Sentencing – Overview, General Principles and Mandatory Custodial Sentences Sentencing Dangerous Offenders Serious Crime Prevention Orders Sex Dolls - Childlike Social Media: Reasonable Lines of Enquiry Speaking to Witnesses at Court Special Measures Stalking or Harassment Prosecution Guidance Suicide: Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide Termination of Proceedings (Including Discontinuance)Terrorism: Guidance in relation to the prosecution of individuals involved in terrorism overseas Theft Act Offences Trespass and Nuisance on Land Unduly Lenient Sentences Use of local information to ensure good quality decision-making Victim Communication and Liaison (VCL) Scheme Victim Personal Statement - Joint Agency Guide to the Victim Personal Statement Victims & Witnesses: CPS Service for Bereaved Families (English Version)Victims & Witnesses: CPS Service for Bereaved Families (Welsh Version)Victims & Witnesses: The Code of Practice for the Victims of Crime (Victims' Code) English/Cymraeg Victims and Witnesses: Care and Treatment Victims and Witnesses: CPS Commitments to Support Victims' Right to Review Scheme Violence Against Women and Girls Guidance Weapons related prosecution guidance Wildlife Offences Withdrawal of Warrants Witness Care: Focussing on Greatest Need (Minimum Requirements)Witness protection and anonymity Your Meeting with The Crown Prosecution Service

Source: CPS prosecution guidance. Digests only; BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.