AC 2.1
● The crime prosecution service (CPS)
○ established in 1986 under the prosecution of offences act 1985
■ It prosecuted criminal cases that have been investigated by the police
and other investigative organisation
● In England and Wales.
■ Their duty is to make sure that the right person is prosecuted for the
right offence and to bring offenders to justice whenever possible
● Prior to the CPS
○ the police investigated and prosecuted crimes,
■ which was problematic due to the late work load
and bias.
● A new CPS also allowed for thorough
consideration of each case.
Role of the CPS
● The CPS
○ advice the police in early stages of investigations,
■ decides which cases to prosecute,
● determines the appropriate charge,
● prepare cases for court
● presents cases in court
● provides information,
● assistance and support to victims
● prosecution witnesses.
○ The CPS works closely with
■ the police,
■ courts,
■ judiciary and other partners to deliver justice
Criminal justice act
● The criminal justice act 2003
○ altered the admissibility of bad character evidence
■ in criminal proceedings by part 11 of the act
● abolished the existing common law rules.
○ The only qualification to the abolition of the common law
■ which,
● for the purposes of bad character evidence,
○ allows for proof of a person's character
■ by the calling of evidence to its reputation.
■ The criminal justice act 2003 also didn't affect the theft act 1968
● which makes provision for proof of guilty knowledge on a
charge of handling stolen goods
○ by proof of previous convictions for handling or theft
● The crime prosecution service (CPS)
○ established in 1986 under the prosecution of offences act 1985
■ It prosecuted criminal cases that have been investigated by the police
and other investigative organisation
● In England and Wales.
■ Their duty is to make sure that the right person is prosecuted for the
right offence and to bring offenders to justice whenever possible
● Prior to the CPS
○ the police investigated and prosecuted crimes,
■ which was problematic due to the late work load
and bias.
● A new CPS also allowed for thorough
consideration of each case.
Role of the CPS
● The CPS
○ advice the police in early stages of investigations,
■ decides which cases to prosecute,
● determines the appropriate charge,
● prepare cases for court
● presents cases in court
● provides information,
● assistance and support to victims
● prosecution witnesses.
○ The CPS works closely with
■ the police,
■ courts,
■ judiciary and other partners to deliver justice
Criminal justice act
● The criminal justice act 2003
○ altered the admissibility of bad character evidence
■ in criminal proceedings by part 11 of the act
● abolished the existing common law rules.
○ The only qualification to the abolition of the common law
■ which,
● for the purposes of bad character evidence,
○ allows for proof of a person's character
■ by the calling of evidence to its reputation.
■ The criminal justice act 2003 also didn't affect the theft act 1968
● which makes provision for proof of guilty knowledge on a
charge of handling stolen goods
○ by proof of previous convictions for handling or theft
