The prestigious Prosecutor and Prosecuting Team of the Year Awards 2025 have honoured outstanding individuals and teams within government, acknowledging their crucial role in safeguarding public confidence in the legal system. Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP presented the awards at an event on Tuesday 14 July, highlighting the exceptional dedication and expertise displayed by prosecutors.
Caroline Deacon, a Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), has been recognised as Criminal Justice Agencies (CJA) Prosecutor of the Year. Her commendable achievement lies in successfully prosecuting one of the first cases under the Online Safety Act, where she expertly navigated complex digital evidence to secure a guilty plea, thereby sparing the victim from a trial.
Gillian Milton, a skilled Criminal Lawyer with The Insolvency Service, has received the non-CJA Prosecutor of the Year award. Her exceptional work in combating Covid-19 loan fraud has been celebrated, having completed twelve prosecutions in 2025, all resulting in guilty pleas. Jonathan Lupton, Director of Legal Services at the Insolvency Service, praises Ms Milton's outstanding record, highlighting her personal prosecution of almost 40% of all sentenced Bounce Back Loan cases since 2023.
The Operation Greenbank Prosecution Team from the CPS has been awarded CJA Team of the Year for their victim-centred approach in a high-profile case. This approach ultimately secured guilty pleas and a life imprisonment sentence with a minimum term of over 51 years. Meanwhile, the Bounce Back Loan Prosecutions Team from The Insolvency Service secured the non-CJA Team of the Year award, boasting an impressive conviction rate of nearly 97% across cases completed in 2025, thereby holding fraudsters accountable for abusing public funds.
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP has commended all winners and nominees, stating that their work exemplifies exceptional skill, dedication, and innovation. She stresses that their efforts in securing landmark convictions, tackling fraud, and ensuring victims receive justice safeguard the public and hold those responsible to account. The Director of Public Prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service, Stephen Parkinson, also praises the winners for their expertise, professionalism, and dedication, saying they have set new precedents and delivered justice in challenging cases.