crown prosecution service: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Legal, official, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “crown prosecution service” mean?
The principal public prosecution service for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales, representing the state rather than a private party.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The principal public prosecution service for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales, representing the state rather than a private party.
The independent government department responsible for deciding which cases to prosecute based on the evidence provided by police, for preparing and presenting cases in court, and for providing legal advice to law enforcement. Often seen as the institutional embodiment of the public prosecutor in the legal system of England and Wales.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to the jurisdictions of England and Wales. The US and other common law jurisdictions have different prosecuting authorities (e.g., District Attorney's offices, state/federal prosecutors). In Scotland, the equivalent is the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Connotations
In a British context, it connotes state authority, the legal process, and the public interest in justice. It is neutral-to-formal in tone. In an American context, it is a foreign term referring specifically to a British institution.
Frequency
High frequency in UK legal, news, and political discourse. Extremely low frequency in US contexts outside of comparative law or news about UK cases.
Grammar
How to Use “crown prosecution service” in a Sentence
The Crown Prosecution Service + [verb: decided/announced/reviewed/charged/prosecuted] + [object][Subject: Police/Evidence/Case] + was/were + referred to + the Crown Prosecution ServiceA decision by/from the Crown Prosecution ServiceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown prosecution service” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The case was CPS-ed after a lengthy review.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb in US English.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The CPS lawyer presented the opening statement.
- They followed the CPS guidelines meticulously.
American English
- Not used adjectivally in US English; terms like 'prosecutorial' or 'from the DA's office' would be used.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; relevant only in context of corporate crime, fraud cases, or regulatory breaches where the CPS is the prosecuting body.
Academic
Used in law, criminology, and political science texts discussing the British legal system, prosecutorial discretion, or criminal justice reform.
Everyday
Used in news reports about crime and court cases. E.g., 'The CPS has dropped the charges.'
Technical
Precise legal term referring to the specific statutory body with defined powers under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 and associated codes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown prosecution service”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown prosecution service”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown prosecution service”
- Using lowercase ('crown prosecution service').
- Using it as a common noun to mean any prosecutor ('The crown prosecution service for the case said...').
- Confusing it with the police or the courts.
- Adding an unnecessary 'the' before 'CPS' in its abbreviated form (incorrect: 'the CPS said'; correct: 'the CPS said' or 'CPS said').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The police investigate crimes and gather evidence. The CPS is a separate, independent agency that reviews that evidence and makes the decision on whether to prosecute someone in court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who is a senior barrister or solicitor appointed by the Attorney General.
Yes. The CPS can discontinue a prosecution if, for example, new evidence emerges, a witness withdraws, or it is deemed no longer in the public interest to proceed.
CPS is the standard abbreviation for the Crown Prosecution Service.
The principal public prosecution service for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales, representing the state rather than a private party.
Crown prosecution service is usually legal, official, journalistic in register.
Crown prosecution service: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃən ˌsɜːvɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˌprɑːsɪˈkjuːʃən ˌsɜːrvɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A CPS case”
- “In the hands of the CPS”
- “CPS-driven”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The CROWN (representing the state) PROSECUTES (brings legal cases) as a SERVICE (public body).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS A PROSECUTOR (The abstract authority of the state is embodied in a concrete service that acts in court).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary jurisdiction of the Crown Prosecution Service?