Offences against the Person, incorporating the Charging Standard
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 assists prosecutors in identifying key offences against the person and selecting appropriate charges based on circumstances. It outlines various offences categorized into summary only, either way, and indictable-only offences, detailing specific considerations for each. The document emphasizes the importance of injury level and context in charge selection as well as references to related CPS guidance for certain cases such as domestic abuse and child abuse.
Key points
- Guidance supports charge selection for offences against the person
- Prosecutors should assess the level of injury
- Consider relevant circumstances for appropriate charge
- Additional CPS guidance should be referenced
- Be mindful of specific victim vulnerabilities
- Evaluate acceptability of pleas cautiously
Public-interest factors
- Deterrence of violent crime
- Protection of vulnerable individuals
- Public safety considerations
- Prevention of domestic abuse
- Addressing hate crimes
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.