Consent of the Attorney General to prosecute: process guidance
Some criminal offences require the Attorney General’s consent or permission for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consent before legal proceedings can begin.
Applies to England and Wales
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Background
Some criminal offences, as set out in legislation, require the Attorney General’s consent or permission for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to consent before legal proceedings can begin.
Any function of the Attorney General, including granting consent for prosecution, can also be exercised by the Solicitor General.
In these cases, the Law Officers are asked to decide whether they consent to the prosecution of an individual, or grant permission for the DPP to consent to a prosecution. The full list of offences that require the Law Officers’ consent, including the circumstances in which this applies to offences under Terrorism legislation, is available on CPS website.