Disclosure Manual: Annex A - Examples of Unused Material
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 provides examples of unused material that may be created or used during a criminal investigation. It outlines various categories and specific items of unused material relevant to crime reporting, administration, investigation, forensic and medical records, and third-party materials. These examples serve to assist prosecutors and law enforcement in ensuring proper disclosure and consideration of unused evidence during the prosecution process.
Key points
- Details various categories of unused material during criminal investigations.
- Includes examples such as investigative reports, forensic records, and witness statements.
- Outlines necessary documentation under different MG categories.
- Highlights the importance of proper disclosure in legal proceedings.
- Assists legal teams in identifying relevant unused material for trial preparation.
Public-interest factors
- Ensuring fairness in prosecutorial processes.
- Maintaining integrity in the disclosure of evidence.
- Supporting the right to a fair trial by considering unused evidence.
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.