Disclosure Manual: Chapter 10 - The Disclosure Officer's Report
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 responsibilities of the disclosure officer in relation to the disclosure of material that may affect the prosecution case. It emphasizes the necessity to identify and report material that could undermine the prosecution or assist the defense, including sensitive material. It details the process of certification, inspection, and the continuing duty to disclose relevant material throughout the prosecution process.
Key points
- Disclosure officers must identify material that could undermine the prosecution case.
- Sensitive material requires careful handling and detailed justification for its sensitivity.
- Prosecution must only disclose material that satisfies the disclosure test.
- A wide interpretation should be applied in identifying disclosable material.
- Disclosure officers should ensure all relevant material is certified and revealed to the prosecutor.
- Continuing duty to disclose includes new material that comes to light after initial disclosure.
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.