Joint Investigation Teams
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 prosecution guidance outlines the role and framework for Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) to facilitate international cooperation in criminal investigations across multiple countries. It details the legal treaties supporting the establishment of JITs, the advantages they offer, and the protocols for coordinating investigations. The guidance emphasizes the efficiency and effectiveness of JITs in securing evidence and resolving jurisdictional issues during cross-border investigations.
Key points
- JITs are established by written agreement between countries for specific criminal investigations.
- Members include prosecutors and law enforcement officers from participating countries.
- JITs allow direct gathering and exchange of evidence without formal Mutual Legal Assistance.
- They remain effective even post-Brexit, though funding from Eurojust may not be available for non-EU countries.
- Coordination meetings facilitated by Eurojust are essential for effective cooperation and strategy development.
Public-interest factors
- Facilitates cooperation in complex international cases
- Enhances evidence collection and exchange
- Reduces investigative duplications
- Addresses jurisdictional issues early
- Encourages real-time collaborative decision making
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.