Criminal justice
„The state prosecutes those charged with a crime. The police investigate
a crime and may apprehend suspects and detain them in custody. If the police
decide an offender should be prosecuted, a file on the case is sent to the
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) – the national prosecution service for Eng-
land and Wales. The CPS must consider whether there is enough evidence for
a realistic prospect of conviction, and if so, whether the public interest re-
quires a prosecution. They can decide to either go ahead with the prosecution,
send the case back to the police for a caution, or take no further action. Crim-
inal proceedings can be initiated either by the serving of a summons setting
out the offence and requiring the accused to attend court, or, in more serious
cases, by a warrant of arrest issued by a Magistrates' Court. Lawyers from the
CPS may act as public prosecutors. The Criminal Defence Service provides
legal aid, which funds the services of an independent duty solicitor who
represents the accused in the police station and in court. However, at the end
of a Crown Court case the judge has the power to order the defendant to pay
some or all of the defence costs.‟