Disclosure Manual: Annex C1 - Sensitive Material and PII Applications Flowchart
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 details the procedure for handling sensitive material and Public Interest Immunity (PII) applications during prosecution. It outlines a flowchart that assists prosecutors in determining whether material is relevant and sensitive and what actions should be taken regarding its disclosure. The flowchart ensures compliance with disclosure obligations while balancing the public interest.
Key points
- Material must be relevant to the investigation.
- Sensitive material requires different handling than non-sensitive material.
- Disclosure tests must be satisfied before releasing material.
- Full disclosure is prioritized unless public interest dictates otherwise.
- Summaries or extracts may be disclosed if they do not unfairly affect the defense.
- The prosecutor may need to apply for PII if interests conflict.
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.