Can you retract a statement from the police to say you will not press charges?!

[scruffbag]

Hi,
My husband was verbally threatened and called the Police. The person involved admitted the charge, and said he was gulity.
The Police asked if my hubby wanted to press charges. He said he didn't, as he wanted to keep the peace with the person involved. He signed a form to say he didn't want to press charges.
However, circumstances have changed, and he now wants to maybe persue this. Can he retract his form, and get the person involved charged? I would really appreciate your help! Many thanks in advance.

[lcg]

it may be difficult for him to say that he has changed his mind unless something new has come to light e.g. further threats or a criminal offence. why has he changed his stance on pressing charges?

[FredPuli43]

It's the CPS, not the victim, who decide whether to prosecute. If your husband says he now wants to go on, the police should refer the case to the CPS. Depending on the circumstances disclosed the CPS may decide to prosecute. They might decide not to, if they think there is no reasonable chance of a conviction, but that's for them. That your husband changed his mind would be one fact for them to consider, but that depends on the reason for his change of mind. If they thought he was manifestly unreliable as a witness and the matter not serious in itself then, clearly, they might not go on. But it is quite common for victims to do this, for any number of good or natural reasons, and the CPS would not be swayed by the mere fact of a change of mind. After all, in this case it appears that the suspect made an admission, which helps.

[scruffbag]

Thank You