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Drafting the Indictment

Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.

All CPS 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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 CPS prosecution guidance details the procedures and considerations involved in drafting indictments for trial in the Crown Court. It covers the legal framework, best practices for structuring indictments, and the responsibilities of legal practitioners in this process.

Key points

  • Preparation of the draft indictment is the reviewing lawyer's responsibility.
  • Electronic draft indictments are preferred before the Crown Court upon trial.
  • Guilty pleas should be guided by the Attorney General's Guidelines.
  • Indictments must be clear, detail the charges, and avoid ambiguity.
  • Multiple incident counts can be established for similar offences.

Public-interest factors

  • Efficiency in the legal process
  • Fair trial rights for defendants
  • Clarity in indictment presentation
  • Protection of victims' rights
Common AssaultAssaults on OfficersDriving DisqualifiedCriminal DamageDomestic Violence Counts
Read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk
Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 7 October 2022 · Next review due: 7 April 2023

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.