Costs - Annex 1
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 Crown Prosecution Service's policy on applying for costs against convicted defendants or unsuccessful appellants under section 18 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. It details the circumstances under which costs can be applied, how they are calculated, and provides guidelines for estimating costs incurred in various court proceedings. Additionally, it specifies rates for different types of hearings in both Magistrates' and Crown courts.
Key points
- CPS applies for costs against convicted defendants under section 18 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.
- Costs applied must relate solely to those incurred by CPS in case preparation.
- The CPS does not time-record cases to calculate precise costs; guideline rates are used instead.
- Guideline rates are subject to judicial discretion and provide a benchmark for estimating costs.
- Additional percentages apply for cases with multiple defendants or complex legal issues.
- Hourly rates for CPS staff involved in preparation are also detailed.
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.