Prosecution of Offences Act 1985

16 Defence costs. E+W

(1)Where—

(a)an information laid before a justice of the peace for any area, charging any person with an offence, is not proceeded with;

(b)[F1a magistrates’ court inquiring into an indictable offence as examining justices determines not to commit the accused for trial;]

(c)a magistrates’ court dealing summarily with an offence dismisses the information;

that court or, in a case falling within paragraph (a) above, a magistrates’ court for that area, may make an order in favour of the accused for a payment to be made out of central funds in respect of his costs (a “defendant’s costs order ”).

(2)Where—

(a)any person is not tried for an offence for which he has been indicted or [F2sent] for trial; or

[F3(aa)[F4a notice of transfer is given under [F5a relevant transfer provision] but a person in relation to whose case it is given is not tried on a charge to which it relates; or]]

(b)any person is tried on indictment and acquitted on any count in the indictment;

the Crown Court may make a defendant’s costs order in favour of the accused.

(3)Where a person convicted of an offence by a magistrates’ court appeals to the Crown Court under section 108 of the M1Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (right of appeal against conviction or sentence) and, in consequence of the decision on appeal—

(a)his conviction is set aside; or

(b)a less severe punishment is awarded;

the Crown Court may make a defendant’s costs order in favour of the accused.

(4)Where the Court of Appeal—

(a)allows an appeal under Part I of the M2Criminal Appeal Act 1968 against—

(i)conviction;

(ii)a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity; or

F6[(iii)a finding under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 that the appellant is under a disability, or that he did the act or made the omission charged against him;]

[F7(aa)directs under section 8(1B) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 the entry of a judgment and verdict of acquittal;]

(b)on an appeal under that Part against conviction—

(i)substitutes a verdict of guilty of another offence;

(ii)in a case where a special verdict has been found, orders a different conclusion on the effect of that verdict to be recorded; or

(iii)is of the opinion that the case falls within paragraph (a) or (b) of section 6(1) of that Act (cases where the court substitutes a finding of insanity or unfitness to plead); F8. . .

(c)on an appeal under that Part against sentence, exercises its powers under section 11(3) of that Act (powers where the court considers that the appellant should be sentenced differently for an offence for which he was dealt with by the court below);

[F9or

(d)allows, to any extent, an appeal under section 16A of that Act (appeal against order made in cases of insanity or unfitness to plead);]

the court may make a defendant’s costs order in favour of the accused.

[F10(4A)The court may also make a defendant’s costs order in favour of the accused on an appeal under section 9(11) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (appeals against orders or rulings at preparatory hearings) [F11or section 35(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996][F12or under Part 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003] .]

(5)Where—

(a)any proceedings in a criminal cause or matter are determined before a Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division;

(b)the [F13Supreme Court] determines an appeal, or application for leave to appeal, from such a Divisional Court in a criminal cause or matter;

(c)the Court of Appeal determines an application for leave to appeal to the [F13Supreme Court] under Part II of the M3Criminal Appeal Act 1968; or

(d)the [F13Supreme Court] determines an appeal, or application for leave to appeal, under Part II of that Act;

the court may make a defendant’s costs order in favour of the accused.

(6)A defendant’s costs order shall, subject to the following provisions of this section, be for the payment out of central funds, to the person in whose favour the order is made, of such amount as the court considers reasonably sufficient to compensate him for any expenses properly incurred by him in the proceedings.

[F14(6A)Where the court considers that there are circumstances that make it inappropriate for the accused to recover the full amount mentioned in subsection (6), a defendant's costs order must be for the payment out of central funds of such lesser amount as the court considers just and reasonable.

(6B)Subsections (6) and (6A) have effect subject to—

(a)section 16A, and

(b)regulations under section 20(1A)(d).

(6C)When making a defendant's costs order, the court must fix the amount to be paid out of central funds in the order if it considers it appropriate to do so and—

(a)the accused agrees the amount, or

(b)subsection (6A) applies.

(6D)Where the court does not fix the amount to be paid out of central funds in the order—

(a)it must describe in the order any reduction required under subsection (6A), and

(b)the amount must be fixed by means of a determination made by or on behalf of the court in accordance with procedures specified in regulations made by the Lord Chancellor.]

F15(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16

F17(9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10)Subsection (6) above shall have effect, in relation to any case falling within subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a) above, as if for the words “in the proceedings ” there were substituted the words “in or about the defence ”.

(11)Where a person ordered to be retried is acquitted at his retrial, the costs which may be ordered to be paid out of central funds under this section shall include—

(a)any costs which, at the original trial, could have been ordered to be so paid under this section if he had been acquitted; and

(b)if no order was made under this section in respect of his expenses on appeal, any sums for the payment of which such an order could have been made.

[F18(12)[F19In subsection (2)(aa) “relevant transfer provision ” means—

(a)section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987, or

(b)section 53 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.]]