Year 13 Criminology / Unit 3 / AC1.1
AC 1.1 Role: The Crown Prosecution Service
Brief outline of the role: Independent prosecution service with 14 regional offices across England and Wales. It has several functions in criminal
cases. CPS was set up in 1986 so police weren’t responsible for investigating, charging and prosecuting cases which could lead to bias. The CPS
independently assesses evidence and decides whether to prosecute or not.
Area STRENGTHS LIMITATIONS Relevant Case Study
Cost - Crown prosecutor salary can vary from - Funding and staff cuts in recent years meant
a trainee £24,000 up to over £100,000 a growing burden of cases. - steady decrease
for chief crown prosecutors - Pattern hasn't changed – plan to decrease
funding by further 4.4% in 2025
- Top end roles are very highly paid, therefore
potentially an expensive part of a criminal
investigation
- CPS has sometimes made serious errors, ➔ The murder of
Expertise - In more serious cases, CPS decide
e.g., not thoroughly reviewing evidence Damilola Taylor- Case
whether to charge suspect and what
before prosecution, resulting in prosecutions collapsed after
the charge should be.
failing evidence of key
witness got dismissed
- Has specialist divisions dealing /w
prosecutions that require specialist - Widespread criticisms on handling of rape as she was known to
knowledge eg serious organised crime, cases: Often dropping rape or SA cases, have lied in the past. –
terrorism and complex frauds. citing insufficient evidence, even when The CPS had failed to
police believe evidence is strong. check her account
- CPS prosecutors have to be qualified prior to trial
(3 years) & experienced (at least 1 - Criticised for poor
year) solicitors before they can apply evidence evaluation
- High-profile errors: mistakes in disclosure –
to be a crown prosecutor
e.g. failing to share evidence w defence –
have caused several trials to collapse
AC 1.1 Role: The Crown Prosecution Service
Brief outline of the role: Independent prosecution service with 14 regional offices across England and Wales. It has several functions in criminal
cases. CPS was set up in 1986 so police weren’t responsible for investigating, charging and prosecuting cases which could lead to bias. The CPS
independently assesses evidence and decides whether to prosecute or not.
Area STRENGTHS LIMITATIONS Relevant Case Study
Cost - Crown prosecutor salary can vary from - Funding and staff cuts in recent years meant
a trainee £24,000 up to over £100,000 a growing burden of cases. - steady decrease
for chief crown prosecutors - Pattern hasn't changed – plan to decrease
funding by further 4.4% in 2025
- Top end roles are very highly paid, therefore
potentially an expensive part of a criminal
investigation
- CPS has sometimes made serious errors, ➔ The murder of
Expertise - In more serious cases, CPS decide
e.g., not thoroughly reviewing evidence Damilola Taylor- Case
whether to charge suspect and what
before prosecution, resulting in prosecutions collapsed after
the charge should be.
failing evidence of key
witness got dismissed
- Has specialist divisions dealing /w
prosecutions that require specialist - Widespread criticisms on handling of rape as she was known to
knowledge eg serious organised crime, cases: Often dropping rape or SA cases, have lied in the past. –
terrorism and complex frauds. citing insufficient evidence, even when The CPS had failed to
police believe evidence is strong. check her account
- CPS prosecutors have to be qualified prior to trial
(3 years) & experienced (at least 1 - Criticised for poor
year) solicitors before they can apply evidence evaluation
- High-profile errors: mistakes in disclosure –
to be a crown prosecutor
e.g. failing to share evidence w defence –
have caused several trials to collapse
