Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)

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The director of public prosecutions (DPP) is the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the third most senior public prosecutor in England and Wales, ranking after the attorney general and solicitor general. First created in 1879, the office was merged with that of the Treasury Solicitor five years later, before again becoming independent in 1908. The director's department and role underwent modernisation from 1944 to 1964 under Sir Theobald Mathew QC, and further expansion with the introduction of the CPS in 1985, which came under the authority of the director. Today, the incumbent bears personal responsibility for 7,000 CPS staff and the approximately 800,000 prosecutions undertaken by it every year. The office is also considered of permanent secretary rank as per the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. The director reports to the attorney general, who answers for the CPS in Parliament and makes appointments to the position...

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