The Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (Defence Disclosure Time Limits) Regulations 1997

3.—(1) The period referred to in regulation 2 shall, if the court so orders, be extended by so many days as the court specifies.

(2) The court may only make such an order if an application which complies with paragraph (3) below is made by the accused before the expiration of the period referred to in regulation 2.

(3) An application under paragraph (2) above shall—

(a) state that the accused believes, on reasonable grounds, that it is not possible for him to give a defence statement under section 5 or, as the case may be, 6 of the Act during the period referred to in regulation 2;

(b) specify the grounds for so believing; and

(c) specify the number of days by which the accused wishes that period to be extended.

(4) The court shall not make an order under paragraph (1) above unless it is satisfied that the accused cannot reasonably give or, as the case may be, could not reasonably have given a defence statement under section 5 or, as the case may be, 6 of the Act during the period referred to in regulation 2.

(5) The number of days by which the period referred to in regulation 2 may be extended shall be entirely at the court’s discretion.