Violence Against Women and Girls Guidance
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 It may omit detail or fall out of date.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 the approach of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding violence against women and girls (VAWG), recognizing it as a significant human rights issue. It includes frameworks for charging decisions, case building, and public interest considerations specific to VAWG crimes. Detailed legal guidance is provided on related offences, evidential considerations, and the need for support for victims throughout the criminal justice process.
Key points
- VAWG crimes are largely perpetrated by men against women.
- The CPS supports both female and male victims of VAWG equally.
- Prosecutions of VAWG crimes are guided by the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
- Pattern recognition is crucial in understanding victim support needs.
- Evidential considerations must not solely rely on the victim's testimony.
- Prosecutors must challenge myths and stereotypes related to VAWG.
- Public interest must be established for proceeding with prosecutions.
- Identification and correct flagging of VAWG crimes are essential.
- Multi-agency risk assessments should be employed where possible.
- Regular communication with victims is crucial to support their engagement.
Public-interest factors
- Seriousness of the offence
- Suspect's culpability
- Harm caused to victims
- Public safety
- Prevention of further offences
- Vulnerability of the victim
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.