The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made a new consolidation of the Criminal Procedure Rules. The 2020 Rules replace the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 and the amendments made to those rules since then. The new rules come into force on Monday 5 October 2020.
The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 replace the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015.
The 2020 Rules:
(a) consolidate the rules made in 2015 with the 11 sets of amendments made to those
rules since then.
(b) rearrange Part 3 of the Rules, the rules about case management and pre-trial
preparation, to restore the proper sequence of the rules in that Part.
(c) replace rules in Part 44 which no longer have any practical use with rules more
appropriate to that position within the Criminal Procedure Rules.
(d) include a new rule about ground rules hearings in Part 3.
(e) make changes to the rules about—
• service of documents (Part 4)
• the information required in an allegation of theft or damage (Part 7)
• the information that must be passed to the Crown Court when a case is sent for
trial (Part 9)
• the content of an indictment (Part 10)
• giving special measures directions (Parts 18 and 39)
• powers exercisable by High Court officers in extradition appeal cases (Part 50).
(f) substitute for time limits set by the 2015 Rules equivalent time limits expressed in
business days.
(g) include connective words omitted from the 2015 Rules.
(h) maintain temporarily the temporary amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules
made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020.
INDEX
The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020
Introductory Text
PART 1 THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
PART 2 UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING THE RULES AND POWERS OF AUTHORISED COURT OFFICERS
PART 3 CASE MANAGEMENT
PART 4 SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS
PART 5 FORMS AND COURT RECORDS
PART 6 REPORTING, ETC. RESTRICTIONS
PART 7 STARTING A PROSECUTION IN A MAGISTRATES’ COURT
PART 8 INITIAL DETAILS OF THE PROSECUTION CASE
PART 9 ALLOCATION AND SENDING FOR TRIAL
PART 10 THE INDICTMENT
PART 11 DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENTS
PART 12 DISCONTINUING A PROSECUTION
PART 13 WARRANTS FOR ARREST, DETENTION OR IMPRISONMENT
PART 14 BAIL AND CUSTODY TIME LIMITS
PART 15 DISCLOSURE
PART 16 WRITTEN WITNESS STATEMENTS
PART 17 WITNESS SUMMONSES, WARRANTS AND ORDERS
PART 18 MEASURES TO ASSIST A WITNESS OR DEFENDANT TO GIVE EVIDENCE
PART 19 EXPERT EVIDENCE
PART 20 HEARSAY EVIDENCE
PART 21 EVIDENCE OF BAD CHARACTER
PART 22 EVIDENCE OF A COMPLAINANT’S PREVIOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
PART 23 RESTRICTION ON CROSS-EXAMINATION BY A DEFENDANT
PART 24 TRIAL AND SENTENCE IN A MAGISTRATES’ COURT
PART 25 TRIAL AND SENTENCE IN THE CROWN COURT
PART 26 JURORS
PART 27 RETRIAL AFTER ACQUITTAL
PART 28 SENTENCING PROCEDURES IN SPECIAL CASES
PART 29 ROAD TRAFFIC PENALTIES
PART 30 ENFORCEMENT OF FINES AND OTHER ORDERS FOR PAYMENT
PART 31 BEHAVIOUR ORDERS
PART 32 BREACH, REVOCATION AND AMENDMENT OF COMMUNITY AND OTHER ORDERS
PART 33 CONFISCATION AND RELATED PROCEEDINGS
PART 34 APPEAL TO THE CROWN COURT
PART 35 APPEAL TO THE HIGH COURT BY CASE STATED
PART 36 APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL: GENERAL RULES
PART 37 APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL AGAINST RULING AT PREPARATORY HEARING
PART 38 APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL AGAINST RULING ADVERSE TO PROSECUTION
PART 39 APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL ABOUT CONVICTION OR SENTENCE
PART 40 APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL ABOUT REPORTING OR PUBLIC ACCESS RESTRICTION
PART 41 REFERENCE TO THE COURT OF APPEAL OF POINT OF LAW OR UNDULY LENIENT SENTENCING
PART 42 APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL IN CONFISCATION AND RELATED PROCEEDINGS
PART 43 APPEAL OR REFERENCE TO THE SUPREME COURT
PART 44 REOPENING A CASE IN A MAGISTRATES’ COURT
PART 45 COSTS
PART 46 REPRESENTATIVES
PART 47 INVESTIGATION ORDERS AND WARRANTS
PART 48 CONTEMPT OF COURT
PART 49 INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
PART 50 EXTRADITION
Glossary
Signature
Explanatory Note