Contempt of Court
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance addresses key aspects of contempt of court, including the prosecutor's role in contempt proceedings, the overlap between contempt and criminal offenses, and specific instances of juror misconduct. It outlines the tasks a prosecutor must undertake when contempt is suspected, the forms of conduct it may apply to, and factors influencing whether to proceed with contempt or criminal prosecution. The guidance emphasizes the importance of communication among the police, CPS, and court in addressing potential contempt incidents.
Key points
- Prosecutor's role in assisting the court with contempt allegations.
- Contempt may overlap with criminal proceedings.
- Juror misconduct can constitute both a contempt and a criminal offense.
- Conduct requiring investigation must be communicated to the police.
- Public interest must be evaluated in contempt cases.
- Authors of publications risking contempt should be contacted promptly.
Public-interest factors
- Seriousness of the conduct
- Potential impact on the administration of justice
- Culpability of the offender
- Public reassurance
- Prevention of future conduct
- Maintenance of public confidence in the legal system.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.