What are the core elements needed to support a prosecution case?

• A. Evidential Factors
• B. Full Code Test
• C. Scenes of Crime Officer
• D. Scientific Support

Answer: (A)

In criminal prosecutions, what matters most are the evidential factors—the pieces of evidence that, together, establish the factual elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt. These factors come from various sources like witness statements, physical or documentary evidence, CCTV, and expert reports, and they must be credible, relevant, admissible, and sufficient to prove each element of the crime. If the evidential factors don’t add up to prove those elements, the case cannot be sustained in court.

The other options describe roles or processes rather than the essential components needed to build a prosecution case. A Full Code Test is the charging decision framework used by the CPS, not the elements required for a conviction. A Scenes of Crime Officer is the specialist who collects physical evidence, which is part of the evidential pool but not the set of elements itself. Scientific Support refers to forensic analysis, which aids evidence but again isn’t the overarching set of core elements.