Oversight and regulation of private prosecutors in the criminal justice system consultation

Overview

This consultation outlines proposals for regulating and overseeing private prosecutors in England and Wales, including those using the Single Justice Procedure (SJP). These proposals aim to ensure that private prosecutors adhere to consistent standards and can be held accountable for their practices. 

The Government aims to achieve three key objectives through this consultation:

1.    Establish consistent standards for private prosecutors and hold them accountable for their practices.
2.    Ensure sufficient safeguards to justice in the SJP.
3.    Increase confidence in the criminal justice system by improving transparency of private prosecutions.

We recognise that the private prosecutorial landscape is complex and there are some considerations that are unique to private prosecutors, or to some private prosecutors. Through this consultation we aim to fully understand how proposals affect all types of private prosecutors and how best to ensure consistent standards, accountability, and transparency of all private prosecutors in England and Wales. The Government considers that regulation of private prosecutors is essential to prevent miscarriages of justice and enhance public confidence in the criminal justice system.