Criminal Procedure Rule Committee
April 2022
Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force
The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 came into force on Monday 4 April 2022. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page now includes those changes.
Amendments to Criminal Practice Directions
The Lord Chief Justice has made some amendments to Criminal Practice Directions V: Evidence. They give new guidance on pre-trial video recording of cross-examination and re-examination where that is directed under section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. For more information, see the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page now includes those Practice Directions.
February 2022
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules, below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 4 April 2022, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page.
October 2021
Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force
The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 came into force on Monday 4 October 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page now includes those changes.
September 2021
Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment
Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Jodie Blackstock have retired from the Committee. We are indebted to them for their service. The Lord Chief Justice has appointed Mrs Justice Foster DBE as a High Court judge member. The Committee members page has been brought up to date to include this appointment.
July 2021
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules, below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 4 October 2021, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page.
June 2021
New magistrates court Preparation for Effective Trial form
The Lord Chief Justice has authorised for use with the Criminal Procedure Rules a revised Preparation for Effective Trial form for use in magistrates courts and a new youth court version of the PET form. The forms are for use on and after Monday 7 June 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules: Forms page now includes those new forms.
There is new guidance, too, for using the forms which is meant for defendants who are not represented by lawyers.
May 2021
Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment
HH Judge Picton and David Kenyon have retired from the Committee. We are indebted to them for their service. The Lord Chief Justice has appointed HH Judge Field QC as a Circuit judge member. The Committee members page has been brought up to date to include this appointment.
April 2021
Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force
The last group of changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 came into force on Monday 5 April 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page now includes those changes.
February 2021
Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force
The first group of changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 came into force on Monday 8 February 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page now includes those changes.
January 2021
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules, below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 8 February and on Monday 5 April 2021, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page.
November 2020
Sentencing Act 2020 changes
On 1 December 2020 the Sentencing Act 2020 replaces most other sentencing legislation. The Act is published at legislation.gov.uk.
Notes to the Criminal Procedure Rules, and some rules, include references to sentencing legislation replaced by the Act. The table below lists the references in Parts 9, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 39 of the Criminal Procedure Rules where new provisions apply. When the Rules are next amended those references will be brought up to date.
Amendments to Criminal Practice Directions
The Lord Chief Justice has made some amendments to the Criminal Practice Directions. The amendments provide that a Taser carried by a police officer attending court requires no special judicial authority if it is part of that officers standard personal protection e