Progression of cases submitted by the police to the CPS for charging decisions

<p dir="ltr">The main aim of this research project was to explore the factors that influence the progression of cases sent by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision. The research primarily focussed on case progression from crime recording up until charge or decision to no further action (NFA) by the CPS.</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr">A mixed method research design was used for the study that included analysis of a sample of 1,002 criminal case files submitted to the CPS for a charging decision and 55 semi-structured interviews with police and CPS staff involved in case progression. The case files covered victim-based crimes where the suspect was not remanded by the police. Rape and serious sexual assaults were excluded from the sample. The data collection was focussed in 4 territorial police forces in England and Wales.</p>