ABSTRACT
Criminal law concerns wrongs against the State. These wrongs are seen as sufficiently serious to cause harm to society in general, and therefore the enforcement of the criminal law is sought by the State on behalf of its people. The agencies of the State that bring such cases include the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS, which prosecutes on behalf of the Police) and other bodies such as the Trading Standards Departments of local authorities (which prosecute on matters of consumer protection law).
