The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) Spending Review settlement
increases the organisation's funding by more than 10% from 2026
to 2029.
The Attorney General KC said:
The criminal justice system was on the brink of collapse and
courts in crisis after fourteen years of neglect. We need to make
our streets safe again, while also rebuilding confidence in the
system.
That is why I welcome the Chancellor's record investment into the
future of CPS as part of the government's Plan for Change to
deliver safer streets and swifter justice.
This additional £96m for the Crown Prosecution Service will help
protect victims by tackling the backlog, speeding up justice and
unlocking digital developments through AI so we can keep
dangerous offenders off our streets – and importantly, deliver a
justice system that serves victims.
Director of Public Prosecutions said:
The funding announced will help the Crown Prosecution Service
meet the significant challenges of the future while focusing on
our number one priority: to reduce delays so victims get justice
sooner.
This settlement will mean more prosecutors who can charge cases
and get them ready for court, bringing more criminals to justice
and giving closure to more victims – which in turn makes our
streets safer.
It will also help unlock the potential of artificial intelligence
and other technologies which will mean our prosecutors can work
more efficiently, helping us do even more with this much needed
funding.
For background
The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) Spending Review settlement
increases the organisation's funding by more than 10% from 2026
to 2029.
This settlement recognises the significant pressure CPS continues
to be under due to increasing demand on the criminal justice
system.
The additional £96m over the Spending Review period will allow
CPS to:
- increase the number of prosecutors
- build capacity and capability through focused recruitment and
development schemes
- continuously improve the quality and efficiency of CPS's
service
- enable CPS to continue to play part in the cross-government
effort to reduce delays in the justice system
- invest in improving the experience of the prosecution process
for victims and witnesses
- Further funding will also be made available to develop key
digital programmes –Digital Jury Bundles, in-house technology,
and artificial intelligence (AI) capability – increasing
productivity and efficiency and enhancing the quality of CPS
services.
- Funding for digital innovation will enable the CPS to drive
value for money to create a leaner, more efficient service for
victims and witnesses.
