Explanatory note

This Order specifies the police forces set out in the Schedule for the purposes of section 3 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The effect is that the duties of the Director of Public Prosecutions as head of the Crown Prosecution Service will include the taking over of the conduct of all criminal proceedings (other than “specified proceedings” as defined in section 3(3) of that Act) and all binding over proceedings instituted on behalf of one of those forces.