The Ipswich branch office of the Crown Prosecution Service is set to close, it has been revealed.

The office, based in St Vincent’s House, which has round 40 workers, is to be closed as part of budget savings.

Susan Stovell, CPS East of England Area Business Manager, said: “Each CPS area is going through the process of rationalising the number of offices it has and the East of England is no exception.

“We are making savings in our estates spend to ensure maximum investment in our front-line operations given the background of reducing funding for the CPS, in common with all government departments.

“With the caseload and staffing numbers in the East of England we should be a single office area.”

Following a national review, it was determined that the East of England will operate from two area offices based in Chelmsford and Norwich.

The decision was based on the digitalisation of business, geography, location of crown courts and transport links.

She added: “Whilst the future position for the East of England area is that we will move from the Ipswich office, there is no timescale for the move out of this office and the lease is not yet due to expire on this building.

“Staff currently based in our Ipswich office will continue to be employed by the CPS in other locations.

“The local accountability for Suffolk prosecutions will be maintained as cases will continue to be prosecuted in the Suffolk courts as they at the moment.

“At the appropriate time we will engage in informal and formal consultation with staff in line with our office closure procedures.”