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Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
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Changes over time for: Section 247
Changes to legislation:
Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 247 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 08 February 2025. 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 to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 247:
- s. 5A inserted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 7 para. 26
- s. 13(1B) (1C) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(2)
- s. 13(2)(aa) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(3)(b)
- s. 13(3A) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(4)
- s. 13(5)(ba) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(5)(a)
- s. 13(6)(a)(iii) and word inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(6)(b)
- s. 13(8) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(7)
- s. 22(5A) inserted by 2007 asp 6 s. 7(2)(g)
- s. 22A(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(2)
- s. 23B(1)(1A) substituted for s. 23B(1) by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(a)
- s. 23B(6A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(3)(c)
- s. 23B(8)-(10) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(c)
- s. 23C(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 23C(3) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(c)
- s. 24(2C) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(4)
- s. 24(2AA) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(2)
- s. 44(6A)(6B) inserted by 2025 asp 1 s. 2(4)(b)
- s. 49(1)-(1F) substituted for s. 49(1)-(3) by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(a)
- s. 49(4A)-(4C) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(c)
- s. 50(7) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(2)
- s. 70B and cross-heading inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(3)
- s. 73A inserted by 2004 asp 3 s. 2(3)
- s. 142A inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(5)
- s. 167(7D) (7E) inserted by 2007 asp 17 sch. 4 para. 1(3)
- s. 167(7D) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(2)
- s. 167(7E) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(3)
- s. 175(1)(ca) words substituted by 2024 asp 5 Sch. para. 7(4)(a)
- s. 194ZA repealed by 2014 asp 18 sch. 3 para. 25
- s. 200A inserted by 2016 asp 1 s. 85
- s. 249(4A)-(4D) inserted by 2014 asp 1 s. 24
- s. 271D(4A) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(4)
- s. 271F(2)(aa) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 10(4)
- s. 271AA inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(2)
- s. 271BZD inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 3(2)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 5A inserted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 7 para. 26
- s. 13(1B) (1C) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(2)
- s. 13(2)(aa) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(3)(b)
- s. 13(3A) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(4)
- s. 13(5)(ba) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(5)(a)
- s. 13(6)(a)(iii) and word inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(6)(b)
- s. 13(8) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 82(7)
- s. 22(5A) inserted by 2007 asp 6 s. 7(2)(g)
- s. 22A(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(2)
- s. 23B(1)(1A) substituted for s. 23B(1) by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(a)
- s. 23B(6A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 1(3)(c)
- s. 23B(8)-(10) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(2)(c)
- s. 23C(1A) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(b)
- s. 23C(3) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 2(3)(c)
- s. 24(2C) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(4)
- s. 24(2AA) inserted by 2023 asp 4 s. 4(2)
- s. 44(6A)(6B) inserted by 2025 asp 1 s. 2(4)(b)
- s. 49(1)-(1F) substituted for s. 49(1)-(3) by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(a)
- s. 49(4A)-(4C) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 17(2)(c)
- s. 50(7) inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(2)
- s. 70B and cross-heading inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(3)
- s. 73A inserted by 2004 asp 3 s. 2(3)
- s. 142A inserted by 2024 asp 5 s. 16(5)
- s. 167(7D) (7E) inserted by 2007 asp 17 sch. 4 para. 1(3)
- s. 167(7D) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(2)
- s. 167(7E) words substituted by 2010 asp 13 Sch. 3 para. 16(3)
- s. 175(1)(ca) words substituted by 2024 asp 5 Sch. para. 7(4)(a)
- s. 194ZA repealed by 2014 asp 18 sch. 3 para. 25
- s. 200A inserted by 2016 asp 1 s. 85
- s. 249(4A)-(4D) inserted by 2014 asp 1 s. 24
- s. 271D(4A) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(4)
- s. 271F(2)(aa) inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 10(4)
- s. 271AA inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 6(2)
- s. 271BZD inserted by 2019 asp 8 s. 3(2)
247 Effect of probation and absolute discharge.S
(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, a conviction of an offence for which an order is made [F1discharging the offender] absolutely shall be deemed not to be a conviction for any purpose other than the purposes of the proceedings in which the order is made and of laying it before a court as a previous conviction in subsequent proceedings for another offence.
(2)Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, the conviction of an offender who is F2... discharged absolutely as aforesaid shall in any event be disregarded for the purposes of any enactment which imposes any disqualification or disability upon convicted persons, or authorises or requires the imposition of any such disqualification or disability.
(3)Subsections (1) and (2) above shall not affect any right to appeal.
(4)Where a person charged with an offence has at any time previously been discharged absolutely in respect of the commission by him of an offence it shall be competent, in the proceedings for that offence, to lay before the court the order of absolute discharge in like manner as if the order were a conviction.
(5)Where an offender is discharged absolutely by a court of summary jurisdiction, he shall have the like right of appeal against the finding that he committed the offence as if that finding were a conviction.
F3(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 247(1) substituted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), sch. 7 para. 59(a); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
F2Words in s. 247(2) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), sch. 7 para. 59(b); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
F3S. 247(6) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), sch. 7 para. 59(c); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 246, 247 excluded by 2007 c. 27, s. 36A(5)(6) (as inserted (1.3.2016) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), s. 88(1), Sch. 1 para. 25; S.I. 2016/148, reg. 3(f))
C2S. 247 excluded (26.5.2016) by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (c. 2), ss. 32(6)(b), 63(2); S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2
C3S. 247 excluded (31.12.2020) by European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 (c. 29), ss. 6(2)(a), 40(7); S.I. 2020/1662, reg. 2(f)
C4S. 247(1) excluded (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), ss. 134(1)(c), 141 (with s. 134(2)(3)); S.S.I. 2004/138, art. 2
C5S. 247(1)(2) excluded (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 158(3)(c), 182 (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. para. 11
C6S. 247(1)(2) excluded by 2005 asp 16 s. 129(5) (as inserted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 24(5), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.)
C7S. 247(1) excluded by 2005 asp 16 s. 96(2A) (as inserted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 24(4), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.)
C8S. 247(1) excluded (28.11.2011) by Double Jeopardy (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 16), ss. 1(1)(4)(a), 17(3) (with s. 14); S.S.I. 2011/365, art. 3
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