Criminal Justice Agencies in Warwickshire
Police
The purpose of the Warwickshire Police is to protect people from harm across the county. This means protecting people from being killed or injured, from having their property stolen or damaged, and from living in fear and intimidation. The Force has its headquarters at Leek Wootton near Warwick and has 15 police stations located around the county.
For more information visit the Warwickshire Police website
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the government department responsible for prosecuting offenders in England and Wales. They are an independent body who work closely with the police. The role of the CPS is to prosecute cases firmly, fairly and effectively when there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and when it is in the public interest to do so.
For more information visit the Warwickshire CPS website
Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS)
HMCS's purpose is to manage the courts' administration in England and Wales in a reformed, improved justice system that focuses on the public.
Warwickshire has three types of court: Crown, County and Magistrates'.
Crown Court
The Crown Court in Warwick is a first-tier Crown Court which means it can deal with the most serious of cases.
Some Warwickshire cases are dealt with at Crown Courts outside Warwickshire
About 60% of the cases dealt with at Warwick come from outside the County, e.g. cases from Solihull and Birmingham.
Magistrates' Courts
Warwickshire currently has 3 Magistrates' Courts: Nuneaton, Rugby and Stratford.
The range of offences dealt with by the Magistrates' Court includes minor parking offences through to more serious offences including burglaries and assaults. The very serious cases are sent to the Crown Court for hearing before a judge.
In Warwickshire cases in the Magistrates' Court are heard by Magistrates', who are also known as Justices of the Peace. These are lay people from the area who are appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
County Court
There are 4 County Courts in Warwickshire that deal with civil proceedings such as small claims, housing possession claims and personal injury.
For more information visit the Her Majesty's Courts Service website
Probation
Warwickshire Probation Area works to protect the public and reduce re-offending. The Probation Service provides information to the court to help sentencing decisions, safely supervises offenders serving their sentence in the community and prepares prisoners for release and supervises them on licence afterwards.
For more information visit the Warwickshire Probation Area website
Youth Offending Service (YOS)
Warwickshire YOS aim is to prevent offending and re- offending by young people in the county. Warwickshire were one of the first areas to establish a YOT.
For more information visit the Warwickshire Youth Offending Service website
Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS)
HMPS serves the public by keeping in custody those committed by the courts.
Although there are no prisons located in Warwickshire, our agencies work closely with prisons throughout the region.
For more information visit the Her Majesty's Prison Service website