The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was set up in 1986 as an independent authority to prosecute criminal cases in England and Wales. In undertaking this role, the CPS:

• advises the police during the early stages of investigations;
• determines the appropriate charge in all but minor cases;
• keeps all cases under review and decides which cases should be prosecuted, using the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors;
• prepares cases for prosecution in court and prosecutes the cases using its own in house advocates or by instructing counsel or agents to present cases; and
• provides information, assistance and support to victims and prosecution witnesses.

The CPS is already at the heart of the Criminal Justice System and well placed to make a much greater contribution to the prevention of re-offending. The CPS also continues to be at the forefront of championing the needs of victims and witnesses.  It is committed to delivering the Government's overarching aims for the criminal justice system - to reduce crime, to dispense justice fairly and efficiently and to promote confidence in the rule of law.

Partnership with other agencies (such as the police, the courts, the Serious Fraud Office and the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office) are essential to successful delivery. 

Having undergone significant change over the last 5 years the service is entering a new phase in its development. Its ambition to bring 25% of all prosecution work in-house means the CPS must present itself as an attractive employer to senior lawyers, and for the first time it has waiting lists of lawyers wanting to join from private practice.

The CPS is a national organisation with staff and locations throughout England and Wales. It has an outstanding frontline capacity prosecuting over 1 million cases. It has a strong central HQ. The CPS employs over 8,500 staff and has an annual budget of £700 million.