Access to Justice Act 1999

67 Time limits where accused sent for trial

(1) In paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the [1998 c. 37.] Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (regulations about service of evidence where a person is sent without committal proceedings to Crown Court)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1) (regulations to provide that evidence be served on or before the relevant date) omit the words “on or before the relevant date” and after paragraph (b) insert “before the expiry of the period prescribed by the regulations; but the judge may at his discretion extend or further extend that period.”, and

(b) for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) The regulations may make provision as to the procedure to be followed on an application for the extension or further extension of a period under sub-paragraph (1) above.”

(2) In section 13(1) of the [1996 c. 25.] Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (transitional time limits relating to service of unused material), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) copies of the documents containing the evidence on which the charge or charges are based are served on the accused (where this Part applies by virtue of section 1(2)(cc)),”.

(3) In section 22 of the [1985 c. 23.] Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (time limits in preliminary stages of criminal proceedings), in paragraph (a) of the definition of “appropriate court” in subsection (11) (which has effect so as to allow the Crown Court to extend time limits where the accused is committed for trial or indicted), after “trial” insert “, sent for trial under section 51 of the [1998 c. 37.] Crime and Disorder Act 1998”.