JUSTICE FOR ALL
What is the CPS and what do prosecutors like Eran Cutliffe do?
BBC2's documentary series The Prosecutors follows the work of the CPS, here we examine what work the service carries out and what role it plays
A second series of a two-part BBC2 documentary follows the work of the CPS and prosecutor Eran Cutliffe as she works on two contrasting cases.
This series follows Eran Cutliffe, who is blind, of the Crown Prosecution Service as she works alongside the police on how drugs are getting into prisons.
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What is the CPS?
As their website states: “The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales.
“The CPS is independent, and we make our decisions independently of the police and government.
“Our duty is to make sure that the right person is prosecuted for the right offence, and to bring offenders to justice wherever possible.”
The organisation decides which cases should be prosecuted, determines the appropriate charges in complex cases and advises the police.
It also helps prepare cases and presents them in court as well as providing information and help to victims and prosecution witnesses.
What do prosecutors like Eran Cutliffe do?
Lawyers like Eran Cutliffe have to follow the Code for Crown Prosecutors and must remain fair, objective and independent.
Prosecutors must be satisfied there is sufficient evidence to be able to obtain a realistic chance of prosecution.
Prosecuting must also be seen to be in the public interest.
In the first episode of the returning show, made by Gold Star Productions, focuses on a gang using drones to smuggle drugs into prisons.
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Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “The Prosecutors provides unparalleled insight into the hard work put in by Crown Prosecution Service lawyers across England and Wales every day.
“When people think about a prosecutor at work they may often picture a barrister on their feet in a courtroom, wearing a wig and addressing a jury.
“In fact, court work is only one part of our role and the series shows the day-to-day work of our lawyers as they provide specialist legal advice to the police and consider evidence in order to make important - and often difficult - charging decisions.”
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