Disclosure Manual: Chapter 28 - Operational Reviews
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 covers the process and principles for conducting operational reviews in major investigations. It outlines the importance of regular reviews to identify potential flaws and improve future investigations. Key points include the handling of disclosures related to operational reviews, including what may or may not be disclosable and the relevance of identifying investigative shortcomings.
Key points
- Operational reviews identify flaws in investigations and can guide future operations.
- Comments made in reviews are generally not disclosable, although underlying facts may be.
- Records from operational reviews likely meet the 'relevance' test for disclosure under CPIA Code of Practice.
- Identified shortcomings only become disclosable if they undermine the prosecution or assist the defense.
- Formal admissions may reveal investigative shortcomings without disclosing the entire review record.
- Post-conviction operational reviews can generate disclosable materials if they reveal unpursued lines of inquiry.
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.