Jonathan Bishop

jonathanbishop@jonathanbishop.com

29 July 2016

Ref: 6132
Dear Mr Bishop,
Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request Internal Review
I refer to your email of 25 June 2016 requesting an internal review of Ms Walkers response to
your Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 08 May 2016.
I apologise for the delay in responding to your internal review request. I have now conducted
an internal review of the request and my decision can be found below. I can confirm that I had
no involvement in the original decision.
I understand your request concerned advice to the police on investigating complaints by
members of the public and in particular you asked the following.
1. State whether you advise the police to only investigate complaints where the incident
complained of if fully investigated could pass the evidential and public interest tests.

2. If yes, to provide such guidance.

3. If no, to state what the CPS does advise to encourage the police to focus on complaints
that are likely to result in prosecutions, and provide a copy of this advice.

I understand you were informed that the CPS does not advise the police as to what they
investigate and this is an operational decision for the police and that no such guidance exists.
I have made further enquiries and, whilst the information you were provided with in the
response is correct, you may like to know that when determining whether to charge, the police

Crown Prosecution Service, Communications Directorate,

Floor 9 North, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS

www.cps.gov.uk

must have regard to the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the DPPs Guidance on Charging.
These documents can be found on the CPS web site using the hyperlink below.
http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/code_for_crown_prosecutors/index.html
http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/directors_guidance/dpp_guidance_5.html
If you require any further information regarding how the police carry out their investigations you
may wish to contact the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) at the following address.
http://www.npcc.police.uk/Info/Whodoyouneedtocontact.aspx
In the circumstances I uphold Ms Walkers original decision. However, I hope the further
advice and information I have provided above will be of assistance to you.
If you are not content with the outcome of this internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Information Commissioner at the following address:
The Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,
Mr T. Cox
Information Management Unit
020 3357 0899
FOIUnit@cps.gsi.gov.uk