CPS ‘cherry-picking’ cases to prosecute, say senior police chiefs

Sir Mark Rowley and Craig Guildford suggest service in England and Wales taking only ‘easy cases’ to court

Two of Britain’s most senior police chiefs have accused prosecutors of “cherry-picking” cases to prosecute in court and warned that victims were being let down.

The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorises charges in England and Wales, was picking the easier cases to secure convictions and dropping other cases, rather than letting juries decide.