The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021

Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules

6.  In Part 9 (Allocation and sending for trial)—

(a)in rule 9.1 (When this Part applies), for the first two paragraphs of the note to the rule substitute—

“[Note. At the first hearing in a magistrates’ court the court may (and in some cases must) order trial in that court, or may (and in some cases must) send the defendant to the Crown Court for trial under section 51 or 51A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998(1). The decision depends upon—

(a)the classification of the offence (and the general rule, subject to exceptions, is that an offence classified as triable only on indictment must be sent to the Crown Court for trial; an offence classified as triable only summarily must be tried in a magistrates’ court; and an offence classified as triable either way, on indictment or summarily, must be allocated to one or the other court for trial, subject to the defendant’s right to choose Crown Court trial: see in particular sections 50A, 51 and 51A of the 1998 Act(2) and section 19 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980(3));

(b)the defendant’s age (and the general rule, subject to exceptions, is that an offence alleged against a defendant under 18 must be tried in a magistrates’ court sitting as a youth court: see in particular sections 24 and 24A of the 1980 Act(4));

(c)whether the defendant is awaiting Crown Court trial for another offence;

(d)whether another defendant, charged with the same offence, is awaiting Crown Court trial for that offence;

(e)in some cases (destroying or damaging property; aggravated vehicle taking), whether the value involved is more or less than £5,000; and

(f)in a case of low-value shoplifting, whether the defendant chooses Crown Court trial: see section 22A of the 1980 Act(5).”;

(b)in rule 9.2 (Exercise of magistrates’ court’s powers)—

(i)in paragraph (3), renumber sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) as (b) and (c) respectively and before sub-paragraph (b), as thus renumbered, insert—

“(a)where rule 9.7 (Sending for Crown Court trial) applies, if the defendant is represented;”,

(ii)for paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4) The court—

(a)at the first hearing in the case must require a defendant who is present to provide, in writing or orally, his or her name and date of birth;

(b)at any subsequent hearing may require such a defendant to provide that information by those means; and

(c)may exercise its power to adjourn—

(i)if either party asks, or

(ii)on its own initiative.”, and

(iii)after the fourth paragraph of the note to the rule insert—

“Under section 86A of the Courts Act 2003(6), Criminal Procedure Rules must specify stages of proceedings at which the court must require the information listed in rule 9.2(4) and may specify other stages of proceedings when such requirements may be imposed. A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, that person fails to comply with such a requirement, whether by providing false or incomplete information or by providing no information.”;

(c)in rule 9.5 (Duty of magistrates’ court officer), in paragraph (1)(c) after “rule 9.11” insert “or rule 9.13”;

(d)in rule 9.11 (Adult defendant: allocation for magistrates’ court trial), at the end of the note to the rule insert—

“Where the court orders trial in a magistrates’ court, see also rules 3.16 to 3.18 about preparation for trial.”; and

(e)in rule 9.13 (Young defendant)—

(i)renumber paragraph (3)(f) as (3)(g),

(ii)at the end of paragraph (3)(e) omit “and”,

(iii)after paragraph (3)(e) insert—

“(f)that before answering and at any time until the court decides whether to send the defendant for Crown Court trial or order trial in a youth court—

(i)the defendant may ask the court for an indication of whether a custodial or non-custodial sentence is more likely in the event of a guilty plea there and then, but

(ii)the court need not give such an indication; and”,

(iv)renumber paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) as (5), (6) and (7) respectively,

(v)after paragraph (3) insert—

“(4) The defendant may then ask the court for such an indication of sentence.”,

(vi)in paragraph (5), as thus renumbered, for the initial “The” substitute “Whether the defendant asks for and the court gives such an indication or not, the”,

(vii)in paragraph (7), as thus renumbered, in sub-paragraph (c) after “allocate the case for trial” insert “in the Crown Court or a youth court”, and

(viii)at the end of the note to the rule insert—

“Where the court orders trial in a youth court, see also rules 3.16 to 3.18 about preparation for trial.”