PART 1THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE
Contents of this Part | |
---|---|
The overriding objective | rule 1.1 |
The duty of the participants in a criminal case | rule 1.2 |
The application by the court of the overriding objective | rule 1.3 |
The overriding objectiveI11.1
1
The overriding objective of this procedural code is that criminal cases be dealt with justly.
2
Dealing with a criminal case justly includes―
a
acquitting the innocent and convicting the guilty;
F2b
treating all participants with politeness and respect;
F1c
dealing with the prosecution and the defence fairly;
F1d
recognising the rights of a defendant, particularly those under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
F1e
respecting the interests of witnesses, victims and jurors and keeping them informed of the progress of the case;
F1f
dealing with the case efficiently and expeditiously;
F1g
ensuring that appropriate information is available to the court when bail and sentence are considered; and
F1h
dealing with the case in ways that take into account―
i
the gravity of the offence alleged,
ii
the complexity of what is in issue,
iii
the severity of the consequences for the defendant and others affected, and
iv
the needs of other cases.
The duty of the participants in a criminal caseI21.2
1
Each participant, in the conduct of each case, must―
a
prepare and conduct the case in accordance with the overriding objective;
b
comply with these Rules, practice directions and directions made by the court; and
c
at once inform the court and all parties of any significant failure (whether or not that participant is responsible for that failure) to take any procedural step required by these Rules, any practice direction or any direction of the court. A failure is significant if it might hinder the court in furthering the overriding objective.
2
Anyone involved in any way with a criminal case is a participant in its conduct for the purposes of this rule.
The application by the court of the overriding objectiveI31.3
The court must further the overriding objective in particular when―
a
exercising any power given to it by legislation (including these Rules);
b
applying any practice direction; or
c
interpreting any rule or practice direction.