Prosecution of Offences Act 1985

Miscellaneous

14 Control of certain fees and expenses etc. paid by the Service

(1) The Attorney General may, with the approval of the Treasury, by regulations make such provision as he considers appropriate in relation to—

(a) the fees of counsel briefed to appear on behalf of the Service in any criminal proceedings ; and

(b) the costs and expenses of witnesses attending to give evidence at the instance of the Service.

(2) The regulations may, in particular—

(a) prescribe scales or rates of fees, costs or expenses ; and

(b) specify conditions for the payment of fees, costs or expenses.

15 Interpretation of Part I

(1) In this Part—

• " binding over proceedings" means any proceedings instituted (whether by way of complaint under section 115 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 or otherwise) with a view to obtaining from a magistrates' court an order requiring a person to enter into a recognizance to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour ;

• " Director " means the Director of Public Prosecutions ;

• " police force " has the same meaning as in section 3 of this Act;

• " prosecution functions " means functions which by virtue of this Part become functions of the Director ;

• " public authority " has the same meaning as in section 17 of this Act;

• " Service " means the Crown Prosecution Service ; and

• " solicitor " means a solicitor of the Supreme Court.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, proceedings in relation to an offence are instituted—

(a) where a justice of the peace issues a summons under section 1 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, when the information for the offence is laid before him ;

(b) where a justice of the peace issues a warrant for the arrest of any person under that section, when the information for the offence is laid before him ;

(c) where a person is charged with the offence after being taken into custody without a warrant, when he is informed of the particulars of the charge ;

(d) where a bill of indictment is preferred under section 2 of the [1933 c. 36.] Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 in a case falling within paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of that section, when the bill of indictment is preferred before the court;

and where the application of this subsection would result in there being more than one time for the institution of the proceedings, they shall be taken to have been instituted at the earliest of those times.

(3) For the purposes of this Part, references to the conduct of any proceedings include references to the proceedings being discontinued and to the taking of any steps (including the bringing of appeals and making of representations in respect of applications for bail) which may be taken in relation to them.

(4) For the purposes of sections 3(2)(b), 5, 6 and 7 (1) of this Act, binding over proceedings shall be taken to be criminal proceedings.

(5) For the purposes of section 5 of this Act, proceedings begun by summons issued under section 3 of the [1959 c. 66.] Obscene Publications Act 1959 (forfeiture of obscene articles) shall be taken to be criminal proceedings.

(6) The functions which become functions of the Director by virtue of this Part shall be treated as transferred functions for the purposes of section 95 of the [1978 c. 44.] Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (effect of certain provisions where functions are transferred to the Crown) but shall not be so treated for the purposes of paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to the [1971 c. 56.] Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (meaning of " last employing authority ").

(7) The person who, immediately before the commencement of section 2 of this Act, holds the office of Director shall be treated on the commencement of that section as holding that office in pursuance of an appointment made by the Attorney General.