Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

12 Offence of remaining unlawfully at large after recall U.K.

(1) After section 32 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (recall of life prisoners) insert—

“32ZA Offence of remaining unlawfully at large after recall

(1) A person recalled to prison under section 32 commits an offence if the person—

(a) has been notified of the recall orally or in writing, and

(b) while unlawfully at large fails, without reasonable excuse, to take all necessary steps to return to prison as soon as possible.

(2) A person is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) as having been notified of the recall if—

(a) written notice of the recall has been delivered to an appropriate address, and

(b) a period specified in the notice has elapsed.

(3) In subsection (2) “an appropriate address” means—

(a) an address at which, under the person's licence, the person is permitted to reside or stay, or

(b) an address nominated, in accordance with the person's licence, for the purposes of this section.

(4) A person is also to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) as having been notified of the recall if—

(a) the person's licence requires the person to keep in touch in accordance with any instructions given by an officer of a provider of probation services,

(b) the person has failed to comply with such an instruction, and

(c) the person has not complied with such an instruction for at least 6 months.

(5) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine (or both).

(6) In relation to an offence committed before section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, the reference in subsection (5)(b) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.

(7) In relation to an offence committed before section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 comes into force, the reference in subsection (5)(b) to a fine is to be read as a reference to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.”

(2) After section 255 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (recall of prisoners) insert—

“255ZA Offence of remaining unlawfully at large after recall

(1) A person recalled to prison under section 254 or 255 commits an offence if the person—

(a) has been notified of the recall orally or in writing, and

(b) while unlawfully at large fails, without reasonable excuse, to take all necessary steps to return to prison as soon as possible.

(2) A person is to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) as having been notified of the recall if—

(a) written notice of the recall has been delivered to an appropriate address, and

(b) a period specified in the notice has elapsed.

(3) In subsection (2) “an appropriate address” means—

(a) an address at which, under the person's licence, the person is permitted to reside or stay, or

(b) an address nominated, in accordance with the person's licence, for the purposes of this section.

(4) A person is also to be treated for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) as having been notified of the recall if—

(a) the person's licence requires the person to keep in touch in accordance with any instructions given by an officer of a provider of probation services,

(b) the person has failed to comply with such an instruction, and

(c) the person has not complied with such an instruction for at least 6 months.

(5) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both);

(b) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine (or both).

(6) In relation to an offence committed before section 154(1) comes into force, the reference in subsection (5)(b) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.

(7) In relation to an offence committed before section 85 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 comes into force, the reference in subsection (5)(b) to a fine is to be read as a reference to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.”

(3) Section 32ZA of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 and section 255ZA of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 apply in relation to a person recalled to prison before or after this section comes into force.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 12 in force at 13.4.2015 by S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 8