Crown Prosecution Service

Question 1

Do the CPS bring cases to court for:

a) Criminal law; or
b) Civil law?

Answer 1

Criminal Law

Question 2

What are the 4 areas of activity?

Answer 2

1) central fraud division
2) International justice and organised crime division
3) Special crime and counter terrorism division
4) Welfare, rural and health division

Question 3

How many geographical areas is the CPS split into? And where are the 2 headquarters?

Answer 3

13 areas

London and New York

Question 4

What year did CPS take over role to take cases to court?

Answer 4

1986

Question 5

Who is the CPS staffed by?

Answer 5

Paralegals and admin staff

Question 6

What is the main role of the CPS?

Answer 6

Deciding which cases to take to court and offering advice and support to victims and prosecution witnesses

Question 7

What are the 2 stages to the full-code test?

Answer 7

1) Evidential stage - look for enough evidence. If there is not enough evidence, case cannot proceed
2) Public interest stage - Is a prosecution necessary in the public interest?

Question 8

What are some problems for the CPS?

Answer 8

Funding- due to a rise in certain crimes like sexual abuse, domestic violence and terrorism (creates new demands)
Staff morale issues
Lack of public confidence

Question 9

In 2016-17, what was:

a) the conviction percentage rate
b) Drop in expenditure
c) the rise in guilty pleas?

Answer 9

a) 83.1%
b) £102
c) 6.6%