Director of Public Prosecutions | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of Public Prosecutions | Vacant |
| Crown Prosecutor | Vacant |
| Organisation | Crown Prosecution Service |
| Seat | 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9EA |
| Works with | Police Service |
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is the head of the Crown Prosecution Service, the body that prosecutes crimes in UKOGB. The DPP and the Crown Prosecutors who work under them decide whether people investigated by the Police Service should be charged, and then present the case against them in court.
Contents
Charging decisions
When the police finish an investigation, they pass the file to the CPS. A prosecutor applies a two-part test: is there enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and is a prosecution in the public interest? Only if both are met is the suspect charged. The prosecutor decides the charge, and may also decide to drop a case if new evidence comes to light.
Independence
The DPP is independent of the government and the police. Ministers cannot direct a prosecution, and the DPP answers for the Service's decisions in public.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.