Disclosure Manual
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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.
The Disclosure Manual provides guidance on the prosecution disclosure process and responsibilities under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA). It is applicable to investigations that commenced on or after 4 April 2005, with additional considerations for earlier investigations outlined in Chapter 1. The manual lays out various aspects of disclosure including roles, responsibilities, and handling of sensitive material.
Key points
- Guidance applies to investigations from 4 April 2005 onwards.
- Chapter 1 covers disclosure considerations for earlier investigations.
- Details the roles and responsibilities related to disclosure.
- Outlines the relevance and retention of material.
- Addresses reasonable lines of enquiry and engagement with third parties.
- Provides specific schedules for sensitive and non-sensitive material.
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.