Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

Changes to legislation:

Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 72A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 November 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 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.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 72A:

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. 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s. 194ZA repealed by 2014 asp 18 sch. 3 para. 25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. 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)

[F1[F272A Preliminary hearing: appointment of trial dietS

(1)[F3In any case in which subsection (6) of section 72] applies, the court shall, at the preliminary hearing—

(a)after complying with that subsection;

(b)having regard to earlier proceedings at the preliminary hearing; and

(c)subject to subsections (3) to (7) below,

appoint a trial diet.

F4(1A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)In appointing a trial diet under subsection (1) above, the court may, if satisfied that it is appropriate to do so, indicate that the diet is to be a floating diet for the purposes of section 83A of this Act.

(3)In any case in which the [F5period specified in section 65(1)(b)] applies (whether or not the [F6period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)] also applies in the case)—

(a)if the court considers that the case would be likely to be ready to proceed to trial within that period, it shall, subject to subsections (5) to (7) below, appoint a trial diet for a date within that period; or

(b)if the court considers that the case would not be likely to be so ready, it shall give the prosecutor an opportunity to make an application to the court under section 65(3) of this Act for an extension of the [F5period specified in section 65(1)(b)].

(4)Where paragraph (b) of subsection (3) above applies—

(a)if such an application as is mentioned in that paragraph is made and granted, the court shall, subject to subsections (5) to (7) below, appoint a trial diet for a date within the [F7period specified in section 65(1)(b)] as extended; or

(b)if no such application is made or if one is made but is refused by the court—

(i)the court may desert the preliminary hearing simpliciter or pro loco et tempore; and

(ii)where the accused is committed until liberated in due course of law, he shall be liberated forthwith.

(5)Subsection (6) below applies in any case in which—

(a)the [F8period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)] as well as the [F9period specified in section 65(1)(b)] applies; and

(b)the court is required, by virtue of subsection (3)(a) or (4)(a) above, to appoint a trial diet within the [F9period specified in section 65(1)(b)].

(6)In such a case—

(a)if the court considers that the case would be likely to be ready to proceed to trial within the [F10period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)], it shall appoint a trial diet for a date within that period as well as within the [F11period specified in section 65(1)(b)]; or

(b)if the court considers that the case would not be likely to be so ready, it shall give the prosecutor an opportunity to make an application under section 65(5) of this Act for an extension of the 140 day period.

(7)Where paragraph (b) of subsection (6) above applies—

(a)if such an application as is mentioned in that paragraph is made and granted, the court shall appoint a trial diet for a date within the [F12period specified in section 65(4)(aa)(ii)] as extended as well as within the [F13period specified in section 65(1)(b)];

(b)if no such application is made or if one is made but is refused by the court—

(i)the court shall proceed under subsection (3)(a) or, as the case may be, (4)(a) above to appoint a trial diet for a date within the [F13period specified in section 65(1)(b)]; and

(ii)the accused shall then be entitled to be admitted to bail.

(8)Where an accused is, by virtue of subsection (7)(b)(ii) above, entitled to be admitted to bail, the court shall, before admitting him to bail, give the prosecutor an opportunity to be heard.

(9)On appointing a trial diet under this section in a case where the accused has been admitted to bail (otherwise than by virtue of subsection (7)(b)(ii) above), the court, after giving the parties an opportunity to be heard—

(a)shall review the conditions imposed on his bail; and

(b)having done so, may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, fix bail on different conditions.

[F14(10)In this section a reference to the period specified in section 65(1)(b) or section 65(4)(aa)(ii) is to be construed as including that period as extended.]]]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 72A inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 3, Sch. para. 7; S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3

F2Ss. 72-72D substituted for ss. 72-73A (1.2.2005, 1.4.2005, 1.4.2006, 1.4.2007 and 2.7.2007 for certain purposes, otherwise 1.4.2008) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 1(3), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-5); S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1)); S.S.I. 2007/101, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2007/329, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)); S.S.I. 2008/57, art. 2 (with art. 3)