Disclosure Manual: Chapter 5 - Reasonable Lines of Enquiry and Third Parties
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 obligations under the CPIA Code of Practice for prosecutors and investigators regarding the pursuit of reasonable lines of enquiry, including access to third-party materials. It emphasizes the necessity of determining relevance, necessity, and proportionality when requesting information from third parties, particularly concerning victim counseling records. The document outlines the requirements for handling third-party material and protocols that must be followed during investigations and prosecutions.
Key points
- Prosecutors must pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry, whether they lead to or away from a suspect.
- Third-party material may include information from sources like social services and medical professionals.
- A higher threshold is required for accessing victim counseling records, emphasizing necessity and proportionality.
- Requests for third-party materials must be justified and documented to ensure adherence to legal standards.
- Investigators should consider less intrusive methods before requesting third-party material.
- The AG's Guidance outlines the balance between the right to a fair trial and the privacy of complainants.
Public-interest factors
- Factors regarding the victim's privacy and wellbeing
- Potential impact on the accused's right to a fair trial
- Public interest in the administration of justice
- Necessity and proportionality of accessing 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.