Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what training is available for Police and Crown Prosecution Service staff on the nature and enforcement of restraining orders.

The CPS has bespoke e-learning training regarding restraining orders, which is available to all prosecutors through the Prosecution College. The training enables prosecutors to fully understand the principles and practical issues involved when an application is made to a court to put a restraining order in place for the protection of victims.

The CPS will always prosecute criminal breaches of restraining orders where the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors is met. Offending committed in breach of, or whilst subject to, a court order is likely to be seen as increasing the culpability of the suspect and, therefore, increasing the public interest in bringing a prosecution.

The College of Policing sets the standards for the police and the use of restraining orders is referred to in a number of areas across the College’s curriculum.