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CPS making progress in managing domestic abuse cases, says HMCPSI

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The CPS Inspectorate has found that the CPS has made progress in how they manage domestic abuse cases, but improvements are still required to ensure victims receive a better service.

His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI) has today [6 March 2025] published a follow up inspection report looking at the service provided by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to victims of domestic abuse.

This latest report – issued in the days leading up to International Women’s Day on 8 March 2025 – follows a previous inspection by HMCPSI in 2023 that looked at CPS’s management of domestic abuse cases.

The 2023 inspection found that CPS recognised domestic abuse was a priority area and while there was some good quality casework, the prosecuting body needed to make improvements.

HMCPSI has found in this latest inspection that out of the six recommendations made in 2023, CPS has achieved three.

One area of improvement has seen CPS work better with the police to ensure risk assessments in domestic abuse cases are provided by police at the pre-charge stage. This helps police and prosecutors identify further offending, such as coercive control, and additional measures to protect victims.

However, while CPS’s internal systems picked-up cases subject to statutory time limits that were close to expiring, these cases were not always being flagged in communications with the police. This increases the risk of some cases not being charged before expiry of the statutory time limit which will result in victims being failed.

Deputy Chief Inspector Lisa Morris said:

“The CPS should be commended for their progress in managing domestic abuse cases. Improving how they work with police to secure the right information in the form of risk assessments at the pre-charge stage is a significant step in improving casework quality to support and protect victims and the public.

“However, not all of our 2023 recommendations have been achieved. Cases subject to statutory time limits are at risk of expiring before suspects are charged if that information is not clearly identified in communications with the police, and victims were not routinely being asked if they wished to provide an updated victim personal statement following conviction.

“This has meant vulnerable victims are at risk of receiving a poor quality service, and possibly dropping out of the criminal justice system. Domestic abuse is a traumatic crime, and as we approach International Women’s Day we urge CPS to continue making progress to improve the quality of service to victims and improve public trust.”

Inspectors also found that CPS continues to make progress in developing trauma informed training for prosecutors dealing with domestic abuse cases and is meeting its target of quality assuring work carried out by prosecutors on domestic abuse cases.

HMCPSI has made two new recommendations to supersede two of the outstanding original recommendations.

By December 2025, CPS must ensure in all magistrates’ courts domestic abuse cases involving a Newton hearing or conviction after trial, an updated victim personal statement must be requested in a timely manner for the sentence hearing.

And by December 2025 to have delivered the trauma informed training it has developed to all prosecutors dealing with domestic abuse casework.