CPS, Victims Right to Review

You should (normally) contact us within seven (7) days from the date of the communication of the decision, to advise us that you would like us to review the decision.

Under this scheme you can seek a review of the following CPS decisions:

• Not to charge

• To discontinue (or withdraw in the Magistrates' Court) all charges

• Offer no evidence.

The following cases do not fall within the scope of the scheme:

• Cases where the police exercise their independent discretion not to investigate or not to investigate a case further (whether in consultation with the CPS or not) where a full file of evidence has not been provided with a view to the CPS taking a formal prosecution decision

• Cases where a single charge or charges are discontinued, but your case continues on another charge or charges

• Cases where a single charge or charges are substantially altered, but your case continues

• Cases which are concluded by way of out of court disposal

• Cases in which you request that proceedings are stopped.

Please note that the scheme applies only in relation to qualifying decisions made on or after the 5 June 2013.

If you would like us to review a qualifying decision, please contact the CPS office where the decision was made (normally) within seven calendar days from the date of the communication of the decision in order to ensure a prompt review.

This will be CPS Direct (CPS Direct is the team responsible for making the majority of charging decisions) or your local CPS office or the office of the relevant Central Casework Division.

Our preference is that you contact us by e-mail, but we are also happy for you to get in touch with us by telephone or letter.

Where we have not been able to resolve the issue locally, the decision will be fully reviewed.The review will comprise a reconsideration of the evidence and public interest i.e. the reviewing prosecutor will approach the case afresh to determine whether the original decision was right or wrong.We will contact you with the outcome of the review.If you are entitled to enhanced assistance under the Victims' Code, you will be offered a meeting to discuss the outcome.