Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

[F1 37B Consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions E+W

(1) Where a person is [F2 dealt 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 [F3 shall 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.

[F5 (5A) Subsection (5) does not prevent the prosecution of the person for an offence if new evidence comes to light after the notice was given.]

(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 [F6 (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—

[F7 (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.

F8 (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 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

F2 Words 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)

F3 Words 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)

F4 S. 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)

F5 S. 37B(5A) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 66(7), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 18

F6 Words 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

F7 S. 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)

F8 S. 37B(9) omitted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 66(8), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 18

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 37-37B modified (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), s. 31(4) (with s. 36(4))

C2 Ss. 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))

C3 S. 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)