📓 Chapter 5: The UK Government, the Law and Your Role
Who decides whether to prosecute in England and Wales?
Correct answer: The Crown Prosecution Service
A The police
✓ The Crown Prosecution Service
C The judge
D The jury
💡 Explanation
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides whether to prosecute in England and Wales.
Key facts to remember
- Criminal law — theft, assault, murder; CPS prosecutes in England & Wales
- Procurator Fiscal prosecutes in Scotland
- Civil law — disputes between individuals/organisations
Why this is the answer
From the official Life in the UK study material — 5.4.2 Criminal and civil law:
Criminal law deals with crimes such as theft, assault, and murder. The police investigate crimes and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England and Wales decides whether to prosecute. In Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal is responsible for prosecuting crimes. Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organisations, such as disagreements over contracts, property, or family matters.
More questions from this topic
Ready to practice more?
Take a full mock exam with 24 questions - just like the real test.
Take a Practice Test