Coronavirus: Interim CPS Charging Protocol between the National Police Chiefs' Council and Crown Prosecution Service
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 outlines the interim protocol established in response to the Covid-19 crisis, detailing how charging should be managed by the police and the CPS due to the disruption of court operations. It categorizes cases to streamline the handling of prosecutions during the pandemic, addressing challenges related to attendance of participants in the criminal justice system.
Key points
- Details the impact of Covid-19 on court operations.
- Categorizes cases for efficient charging during the pandemic.
- Addresses issues with attendance of victims, witnesses, defendants, advocates, and jurors.
Public-interest factors
- Ensuring public safety during the pandemic.
- Maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system.
- Facilitating timely prosecutions despite court disruptions.
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.