- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (17/03/2016)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 31/01/2017
Point in time view as at 17/03/2016. This version of this provision has been superseded.
You are viewing this legislation item as it stood at a particular point in time. A later version of this or provision, including subsequent changes and effects, supersedes this version.
Note the term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section.
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Section 37B is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 04 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)Where a person is [F2dealt with under section 37(7)(a)] above, an officer involved in the investigation of the offence shall, as soon as is practicable, send to the Director of Public Prosecutions such information as may be specified in guidance under section 37A above.
(2)The Director of Public Prosecutions shall decide whether there is sufficient evidence to charge the person with an offence.
(3)If he decides that there is sufficient evidence to charge the person with an offence, he shall decide—
(a)whether or not the person should be charged and, if so, the offence with which he should be charged, and
(b)whether or not the person should be given a caution and, if so, the offence in respect of which he should be given a caution.
(4)The Director of Public Prosecutions [F3shall give notice] of his decision to an officer involved in the investigation of the offence.
[F4(4A)Notice under subsection (4) above shall be in writing, but in the case of a person kept in police detention under section 37(7)(a) above it may be given orally in the first instance and confirmed in writing subsequently.]
(5)If his decision is—
(a)that there is not sufficient evidence to charge the person with an offence, or
(b)that there is sufficient evidence to charge the person with an offence but that the person should not be charged with an offence or given a caution in respect of an offence,
a custody officer shall give the person notice in writing that he is not to be prosecuted.
(6)If the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions is that the person should be charged with an offence, or given a caution in respect of an offence, the person shall be charged or cautioned accordingly.
(7)But if his decision is that the person should be given a caution in respect of the offence and it proves not to be possible to give the person such a caution [F5 (whether because of section 17 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 or for any other reason) ] , he shall instead be charged with the offence.
(8)For the purposes of this section, a person is to be charged with an offence either—
[F6(a)when he is in police detention at a police station (whether because he has returned to answer bail, because he is detained under section 37(7)(a) above or for some other reason), or]
(b)in accordance with section 29 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
(9)In this section “caution” includes—
(a)a conditional caution within the meaning of Part 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and
[F7(aa)a youth conditional caution within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998]
(b)a [F8 youth caution under section 66ZA ] [F9of that Act] .]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 37B inserted (29.1.2004 for certain purposes, 3.7.2004 for certain further purposes and 1.10.2007 otherwise) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 28, 336, Sch. 2 para. 3; S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(c); S.I. 2004/1629, art. 2(1)(2)(b)(c): S.I. 2007/2874, art. 2
F2Words in s. 37B(1) substituted (15.1.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 10(2); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2(j)(k) (as amended by S.I. 2007/29, art. 2)
F3Words in s. 37B(4) substituted (15.1.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 10(3); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2(j)(k) (as amended by S.I. 2007/29, art. 2)
F4S. 37B(4A) inserted (15.1.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 10(4); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2(j)(k) (as amended by S.I. 2007/29, art. 2)
F5Words in s. 37B(7) inserted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), ss. 18(5), 95(1); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14
F6S. 37B(8)(a) substituted (15.1.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 10(5); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2(j)(k) (as amended by S.I. 2007/29, art. 2)
F7S. 37B(9)(aa) inserted (16.11.2009 in relation to the areas specified in art. 2(2) of the commencing S.I.) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 148, 153, Sch. 26 para. 20(1)(a); S.I. 2009/2780, art. 2
F8Words in s. 37B(9)(b) substituted (8.4.2013) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 24 para. 6 (with s. 135(4)); S.I. 2013/453, art. 4(f)
F9Words in s. 37B(9)(b) substituted (16.11.2009 in relation to the areas specified in art. 2(2) of the commencing S.I.) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 148, 153, Sch. 26 para. 20(1)(b); S.I. 2009/2780, art. 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 37-37B modified (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), s. 31(4) (with s. 36(4))
C2Ss. 37-37B modified (18.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 50, 53(1) {Sch. 4 para. 30}; S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(2)(h)
Ss. 37-37B modified (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 40, 178; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 6 (subject to art. 4(2)-(7))
C3S. 37B applied (with modifications) (25.6.2013) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 12(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (with arts. 13-31)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: