Use of local information to ensure good quality decision-making
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 outlines how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can utilize local information to improve decision-making quality in prosecutions. It emphasizes the importance of understanding community concerns, the application of local information in prosecutions, and how it can foster community confidence in the justice system. Key areas addressed include public interest considerations, the use of conditional cautions, and the role of prosecutors in sentencing.
Key points
- Engage with communities to understand local crime issues.
- Consider community impact when deciding on prosecutions.
- Conditional cautions can be an alternative to prosecution.
- Prosecutors must ensure the sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence.
- Evidence of community impact aids in courtroom decisions.
Public-interest factors
- Impact of offending on the community
- Prevalence of the offence
- Community characteristics and backgrounds
- Evidence from Community Impact Statements
- Public confidence in reporting crime
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.