Public Prosecutions

The guidelines and policies set out in this Report contain the principles and criteria by which it is determined whether or not someone should be prosecuted. In every case referred to this Office, we first review the evidence. We must be satisfied that there is admissible, substantial and reliable evidence, that a criminal offence has been committed by an identifiable person, and that there is a reasonable prospect of that person's conviction. Secondly, if we are satisfied that the evidence provides a reasonable prospect of conviction, we must then consider whether the public interest requires a prosecution.