The Code for Crown Prosecutors lists a number of criteria for determining when it is in the public interest to prosecute, but these are often in conflict. It is suggested that the institutional structure within which prosecution decisions take place does not allow prosecutors (or the police) to take public interest factors into account systematically and consistently. The author cites the absence of any clearly stated view of the public interest in relation to adults. He suggests that one way of equalizing the treatment of different classes of crime and criminals is for the Crown Prosecution Service to be responsible for all criminal offenses and to apply the same criteria to all.