Safeguarding Children as Victims and Witnesses
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 provides practical and legal information for prosecutors working with child victims and witnesses. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding children within the criminal justice process and outlines principles like expedition, sensitivity, and fairness. The document covers various aspects such as special measures for child witnesses, the role of prosecutors in safeguarding, and considerations for cases involving domestic abuse and child sexual exploitation.
Key points
- Prosecutors must prioritize child safety in cases involving children as victims or witnesses.
- Special measures under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 are available for child witnesses.
- Delays in the prosecuting process should be minimized to alleviate stress on child victims.
- Prosecutors should engage with local authorities for information regarding family proceedings.
- The welfare of the child victim must be considered when making charging decisions.
- Collaboration with safeguarding agencies is crucial for effective child protection.
Public-interest factors
- Vulnerability of the child victim.
- Seriousness of the offense.
- Impact on the community.
- Defendant's age and maturity.
- Potential harm to the child from prosecution process.
- Possibility of prosecution without victim participation.
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.