The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Rules)

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020:

(a) consolidate the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015, S.I. 2015/1490, with the amendments made by S.I. 2016/120, 2016/705, 2017/144, 2017/282, 2017/755, 2017/915, 2018/132, 2018/847, 2019/143, 2019/1119 and 2020/32; and

(b) include the further amendments listed beneath.

Rule	Amendment
Part 2	Rule 2.1 is amended to provide for the transition to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and temporarily to preserve the temporary amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020, S.I. 2020/417. Transitional provisions for extradition cases that were made by the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 are omitted.
Part 3	The rules in the Part are rearranged and augmented as listed beneath. Rule 3.8 is amended to substitute ‘speech disorder’ for ‘speech impediment’. A new rule 3.9 is added to provide for ground rules hearings. The table of contents is amended correspondingly.
Part 4	Rule 4.1 is amended to define the expression ‘relevant court office’. Rules 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 are amended to require service on a court officer or on the Registrar of Criminal Appeals at the relevant court office. Rule 4.11 is amended to allow the service of an Attorney General’s sentencing reference by electronic means to have effect on the same business day if it is served on the Registrar by 5pm.
Part 7	Rule 7.3 is amended to require a statement of the value, if known, of any theft or damage alleged where such value affects the exercise of a magistrates’ court’s powers.
Part 9	Rule 9.5 is amended to require transmission to the Crown Court of a record of any decision by the defendant to choose to be tried in the Crown Court for low-level shoplifting. Rules 9.15 and 9.16 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 are removed to Part 3.
Part 10	Rule 10.2 is amended to refer to the inclusion in an indictment of a summary offence listed in section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
Part 18	Rule 18.9 is amended to provide for the giving of a special measures direction without an application. The table of contents is amended correspondingly.
Part 24	Rule 24.14 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 is removed to Part 3. Rules 24.17 and 24.18 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 are removed to Part 44. The table of contents is amended correspondingly.
Part 39	Rule 39.7 is amended to require information about a proposed witness corresponding with information required by rule 18.9.
Part 44	The Part is replaced with the provision for reopening a case in a magistrates’ court formerly contained in rules 24.17 and 24.18 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015.
Part 50	Rule 50.30 is amended by omitting superfluous references to the powers of court officers now conferred by rule 2.6.

The rules in Part 3 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 correspond with those of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 as follows:

Destinations			Derivations
2015 Rules	2020 Rules			2020 Rules	2015 Rules
3.1	3.1			3.1	3.1
3.2	3.2			3.2	3.2
3.3	3.3			3.3	3.3
3.4	3.4			3.4	3.4
3.5	3.5			3.5	3.5
3.6	3.6			3.6	3.6
3.7	3.7			3.7	3.7
3.8	3.15			3.8	3.9
3.9	3.8			3.9	New rule
3.10	3.12			3.10	3.28
3.11	3.13			3.11	3.29
3.12	3.14			3.12	3.10
3.13	3.21			3.13	3.11
3.14	3.22			3.14	3.12
3.15	3.23			3.15	3.8
3.16	3.24			3.16	3.27
3.17	3.25			3.17	24.14
3.18	3.26			3.18	24.14
3.19	3.27			3.19	9.15
3.20	3.28			3.20	9.16
3.21	3.29			3.21	3.13
3.22	3.30			3.22	3.14
3.23	3.31			3.23	3.15
3.24	3.32			3.24	3.16
3.25	3.33			3.25	3.17
3.26	3.34			3.26	3.18
3.27	3.16			3.27	3.19
3.28	3.10			3.28	3.20
3.29	3.11			3.29	3.21
9.15	3.19			3.30	3.22
9.16	3.20			3.31	3.23
24.14	3.17 & 3.18			3.32	3.24
				3.33	3.25
				3.34	3.26

Time limits in business days. The following rules and notes to rules are amended to substitute for time limits set by the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 equivalent time limits expressed in business days: 3.14(2)(c), 3.15(1)(a), 3.17(2)(b), 3.20(3), 3.21(3), 3.24(5)(a), 3.24(5)(b), 5.7(6)(b), 5.7(6)(,), 6.5(4)(c), 9.16(2)(a), 9.16(3)(a), 9.16(4)(b), 10.4(2), 10.5(2)(b), 11.2(4)(b), 11.5(4), 11.7(3), 12.3(2)(b), 15.5(5)(b), 15.7(5)(a), 15.8(3), 16.4(4)(b), 16.4(4)(b)(ii), 16.4(4)(b)(iii), 17.5(4)(a), 18.3(a)(i), 18.3(a)(ii), 18.8(b), 18.13(2)(b), 18.14(b), 18.17(2)(b), 18.22(2)(b), 18.23(b), 18.26(2)(b), 19.3(2)(b), 20.2(3)(a), 20.2(3)(b), 20.3(2)(c), 21.3(3)(b), 21.3(4)(a), 21.3(5)(b), 21.4(3)(a), 21.4(3)(b), 21.4(4)(b), 21.4(5)(b), 22.2(1)(b), 22.4(1)(b), 22.6(2)(b), 22.7(2)(a), 22.7 note, 23.3(1)(b), 23.7(2)(b), 24.9(4), 24.9(5), 24.9(6), 24.17(2)(a), 27.5(2)(a), 29.5(2)(a), 29.6(6)(a), 30.10(3)(b), 30.10(4)(b), 31.2(2)(a), 31.5(5)(b), 31.7(2)(a), 31.7(4)(b), 31.8(2)(a), 31.8(3)(b), 34.2(2)(b), 34.2(5)(b), 34.6(2), 34.7(2)(b), 34.7(4), 35.2(3)(b), 35.2(5)(b), 35.3(3), 35.3(6)(b), 35.3(7), 36.5(2)(b), 36.5 note, 36.12(5)(a), 36.14(3)(c), 36.14 note, 39.2(1)(b), 39.2(1)(c), 39.4(1)(b), 39.6(4)(a), 39.6(4)(b), 39.7(2)(b), 39.10(3), 39.12(3)(b), 41.4(3)(a), 41.4(3)(b), 42.12(2), 42.16(5), 45.6(4)(,), 45.6(5)(b), 45.8(6)(b), 45.9(6)(b), 45.10(6)(b), 45.11(5)(b), 45.11(7)(a), 45.11(7)(b), 45.11(7)(c), 45.12(2)(a), 45.12(3)(a), 45.13(2)(b), 45.13(3)(b), 47.13(5)(a), 47.20(5)(a), 47.36(1)(b), 47.36(2), 47.40(2)(b), 47.45(2)(a), 47.50(2)(b), 48.2(2), 48.9(2)(b), 48.9(4)(b), 48.11(1)(b), 48.14(3), 48.14(4), 48.15(3), 48.15(4), 50.28(5)(a). Time limits to which the Rules refer but which are set by other legislation remain unchanged.

Connectives expressing conjunction, disjunction and reservation. The following rules are amended to include connectives omitted from the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015: 2.4(1)(a), 2.4(2)(a), 2.6(5)(a), 2.6(7)(a), 2.7(2)(b), 2.7(6)(a), 2.8(2)(w), 2.8(4)(h), 2.8(5)(e), 2.8(6)(a), 2.8(7)(b), 2.8(8)(b), 2.8(9)(a), 2.8(10)(b), 2.8(11)(a), 2.9(2)(a), 3.9(5)(c), 3.12(a), 3.13(1)(b), 3.14(1)(b), 3.14(2)(b), 3.15(1)(a), 3.15(2), 3.17(1)(a), 3.17(2)(b), 3.19(1)(a), 3.23(4)(a)(i), 3.23(5)(a), 3.24(4)(b), 3.27(1)(a), 3.29(3)(b)(i), 4.3(4)(b), 4.4(3)(b), 4.7(1)(a), 4.7(2)(a), 4.9(1)(a), 5.5(2)(b), 5.5(4)(a), 5.7(3)(a), 5.7(4)(a), 5.7(4)(b)(ii), 5.7(6)(c), 5.7(9)(a), 5.8(1)(c), 5.8(3)(a), 5.8(9)(a), 5.8(11)(a), 5.9(3)(a), 6.1(1)(d), 6.3(1)(c), 6.4(1)(a), 6.4(3)(e), 6.5(3)(c), 6.7(3)(a), 6.9(5)(c), 6.10(2)(a), 7.1(1)(c), 7.2(12)(b), 8.3(a), 9.2(3)(a), 9.4(2)(b), 9.4(3)(b), 9.7(3)(b), 9.10(2)(d), 9.11(3)(b), 9.11(3)(c)(ii), 9.11(4)(b), 9.13(6)(b), 9.16(2)(b), 9.16(3)(a), 9.16(4)(a), 9.16(4)(b)(i), 9.16(5)(a), 10.1(d), 10.2(5)(a), 10.2(5)(b)(ii), 10.9(5)(a), 11.2(1)(b), 11.2(6)(a), 11.2(7)(a), 11.10(1)(a), 11.10(2)(a), 11.11(1)(a), 12.1(1)(a), 12.2(2)(a), 13.6(1)(c), 14.1(a), 14.2(1)(c), 14.3(2)(b), 14.4(2)(e), 14.4(5)(a), 14.6(1)(a), 14.6(7)(a), 14.6(8)(b), 14.7(1)(a), 14.7(6)(a), 14.7(7)(b), 14.9(4)(a), 14.13(1)(a), 14.14(1)(b), 14.16(2)(a), 14.17(2)(a), 14.17(4)(a), 14.19(1)(a), 14.19(2)(b), 14.20(2)(b), 14.20(4)(a), 14.22(3)(a), 15.1, 15.3(5)(a), 15.3(9)(a), 15.4(1)(a), 15.6(5)(a), 17.5(3)(b)(i), 17.7(b), 17.7(c), 18.1(e), 18.7(1)(a), 18.7(2)(a), 18.8(a), 18.10(g)(i), 18.13(4)(b), 18.14(a), 18.15(b), 18.18(1)(a), 18.18(2)(b), 18.23(a), 18.24(1)(c), 18.24(3)(b), 19.3(1)(a), 19.3(2)(b)(i), 19.3(3)(c), 19.3(4)(a), 19.9(5)(a), 20.1, 20.2(1)(c), 20.5(1)(b), 21.1, 21.2(1)(a), 21.6(1)(b), 22.1, 22.4(1)(a), 23.1(a), 23.2(2)(c), 23.2(3)(a), 23.2(7)(a)(vi), 23.3(1)(a), 24.1, 24.3(6)(b)(i), 24.4(4)(b), 24.8(3)(b), 24.9(3)(b), 24.9(4)(b), 24.9(8)(b), 24.9(10)(b), 24.11(4)(a), 24.11(10)(a), 24.12(3), 24.15(3)(a), 24.15(4)(a), 24.16(e)(i), 24.17(2)(a), 24.17(4)(b), 24.17(5)(c)(i), 24.18(2)(a), 24.18(5)(a), 25.1, 25.2(1)(b), 25.3(1)(a), 25.6(1)(a), 25.6(6)(a), 25.9(2)(c)(i), 25.10(2)(a), 25.11(2)(c)(i), 25.11(4)(c), 26.1(5)(c), 26.3(b)(iii), 26.3(b), 26.4(1)(a), 27.2(4)(b), 27.3(2)(a), 27.3(3)(c), 27.4(1)(a)(i), 27.4(1)(a), 27.4(2)(b), 27.4(3)(c)(ii), 27.5(3)(d)(iv), 27.6(3)(b), 28.1(1)(c), 28.4(2)(a), 28.4(5)(a), 29.1(2)(c), 29.3(2)(b)(i), 29.3(2)(b), 29.6(6)(a), 30.5(1)(a), 30.5(2)(c), 30.8(1)(b), 30.8(5)(a), 30.9(5)(a), 31.1(b), 31.2(2)(a), 31.3(1)(b), 31.3(5)(a), 31.3(6)(a), 31.9(1)(a)(ii), 31.9(4)(a), 31.10(2)(c), 33.13(2)(b), 33.13(4)(b), 33.13(5)(e), 33.14(1)(a), 33.14(3)(a)(i), 33.14(5)(a), 33.15(1)(b), 33.15(4)(a), 33.16(5)(a), 33.17(5)(a), 33.25(4)(b), 33.26(1)(b), 33.26(2)(a), 33.26(3)(b), 33.27(5)(a), 33.27(5)(b)(i), 33.28(1)(a), 33.28(4)(a), 33.29(4)(a), 33.30(5)(a), 33.31(1)(a), 33.31(2)(a), 33.31(3)(b), 34.1(1)(a)(iii), 34.2(3)(b), 34.4(2)(a)(viii), 34.10(c), 35.2(2)(d)(ii), 35.3(3)(a), 35.3(4)(c), 36.3(c), 36.5(2)(a), 36.14(3)(b), 36.14(5)(c), 36.15(1)(a), 37.3(2)(e)(ii), 37.5(5)(e)(i), 37.5(5)(e), 38.7(5)(e)(i), 38.7(5)(e), 39.2(1)(b), 39.2(2), 39.2(5)(b), 39.3(1)(e)(viii), 39.3(1)(e), 39.4(1), 39.6(6)(f)(v), 39.8(1)(a), 39.9(6)(a), 39.12(3)(a), 39.14(2)(a), 40.2(2)(a), 41.4(3)(a), 41.4(4)(e)(ii), 41.4(5)(c)(ii), 43.2(4)(b), 45.4(4), 45.4(6)(b), 45.6(1)(a), 45.7(1)(a), 45.8(4)(b), 45.9(4)(b), 45.10(4)(b), 45.11(7)(a), 45.13(2)(b)(i), 46.1(1)(b), 46.2(1)(b), 46.2(4)(a), 46.3(1)(a), 46.3(3)(h)(ii), 47.4(b)(ii), 47.4(c)(i), 47.4(d)(iv), 47.4(f), 47.6(2)(e), 47.17(2)(c), 47.20(5)(a), 47.24(a)(i), 47.24(b)(ii), 47.24(c), 47.30(4)(c), 47.31(5)(a), 47.32(4)(b)(iv), 47.32(5)(c)(i), 47.32(6)(b), 47.33(5)(a), 47.35(1)(a), 47.36(1)(a), 47.38(4)(c), 47.38(5)(b), 47.42(a), 47.46(a), 47.46(b)(i), 47.50(1)(a), 47.51(a), 47.53(1)(a), 47.55(1)(b)(ii), 47.59(1)(a)(i), 47.59(1)(a), 47.60(1)(b)(ii), 47.60(3)(a), 47.61(1)(a), 47.61(2)(c), 47.61(3)(j), 47.61(5)(a)(ii), 47.61(5)(a), 47.63(1)(b)(i), 47.65(3)(a), 47.67(1)(b)(ii), 47.68(1)(e), 47.69(1)(c), 48.2(1)(a), 48.5(1)(d), 48.6(2)(a), 48.9(1)(a), 48.16(3)(e), 49.10(2)(a), 49.11(4)(a), 49.11(7)(a), 49.12(2)(a), 49.12(3)(a), 49.12(6)(c)(iii), 49.13(2)(a), 49.13(5)(c)(iv), 49.14(2)(a), 49.14(2)(b), 49.14(2)(c)(i), 49.14(3)(b), 49.15(2)(a), 49.15(2)(b), 49.15(2)(c)(i), 49.15(3)(b), 49.16(1)(a), 49.17(1)(a)(ii), 49.17(1)(b), 49.17(2)(a), 49.17(5), 50.1(2)(a), 50.1(3)(a), 50.1(4)(a), 50.1(5)(b), 50.3(7)(b), 50.4(3)(a), 50.4(4)(a), 50.4(4)(b)(i), 50.4(6)(a)(ii), 50.6(2)(c)(i), 50.6(2)(f), 50.13(2)(j), 50.16(1)(a)(ii), 50.17(6)(c), 50.19(2)(a), 50.19(3)(b), 50.20(5)(a), 50.20(6)(a), 50.20(7)(a), 50.21(3)(a), 50.21(3)(b)(i), 50.21(4)(a)(ii), 50.22(1)(a), 50.22(5)(b), 50.23(3)(a)(ii), 50.23(3)(a), 50.23(4)(a), 50.24(3)(a), 50.25(4)(a), 50.26(b)(ii), 50.29(3)(d),50.32(4)(a)(ii) and 50.32(4)(a).

Amendments to cross-references, etc. The following rules, and notes to rules (‘n’), are amended to bring up to date the cross-references they contain, both generally and in consequence of the re-arrangement of Part 3 of the Rules: 2.4, 2.8, 3.5(n), 3.13(n), 4.10, 5.4(n), 9.1, 10.1(n), 10.2, 10.2(n), 10.3, 10.4, 22.7, 23.2, 24.1(n), 24.15, 25.3(n), 25.4(n), 25.9(n), 28.4, 28.4(n), 28.8(n), 34.3(n), 36.2, 50.18.

The glossary omits the expression ‘justices’ clerk’ which no longer appears in the Rules.

These Rules come into force on 5th October 2020.