The Criminal Procedure Rules 2013
[Note. For the circumstances in which the court may order the defendant’s detention and treatment in hospital, see sections 35, 36, 37, 38 and 44 of the Mental Health Act 1983[^f00543]. For the circumstances in which the court may make a guardianship order, see the same section 37.]
Information to be supplied on committal for sentence, etc.
42.10
- (1) This rule applies where a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court convicts the defendant and—
- (a) commits or adjourns the case to another court—
- (i) for sentence, or
- (ii) for the defendant to be dealt with for breach of a deferred sentence, a conditional discharge, or a suspended sentence of imprisonment, imposed by that other court;
- (b) deals with a deferred sentence, a conditional discharge, or a suspended sentence of imprisonment, imposed by another court; or
- (c) makes an order that another court is, or may be, required to enforce.
- (2) Unless the convicting court otherwise directs, the court officer must, as soon as practicable—
- (a) where paragraph (1)(a) applies, arrange the transmission from the convicting to the other court of relevant copy court records and other relevant documents, including any—
- (i) certificate of conviction,
- (ii) magistrates’ court register entry,
- (iii) record relating to bail,
- (iv) note of evidence,
- (v) statement or other document introduced in evidence,
- (vi) medical or other report,
- (vii) representation order or application for such order, and
- (viii) interim driving disqualification;
- (b) where paragraph (1)(b) or (c) applies, arrange—
- (i) the transmission from the convicting to the other court of notice of the convicting court’s order, and
- (ii) the recording of that order at the other court;
- (c) in every case, notify the defendant and, where the defendant is under 14, an appropriate adult, of the location of the other court.
[Note. For the circumstances in which—
- (a) a magistrates’ court may (and in some cases must) commit the defendant to the Crown Court for sentence, see sections 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4, 4A and 6 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000[^f00544]and section 43 of the Mental Health Act 1983[^f00545];
- (b) a magistrates’ court may adjourn the case to another magistrates’ court for sentence, see section 10 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980[^f00546]and section 10 of the 2000 Act[^f00547];
- (c) a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court may (and in some cases must) adjourn the case to a youth court for sentence, see section 8 of the 2000 Act[^f00548];
- (d) a youth court may adjourn the case to a magistrates’ court for sentence, see section 9 of the 2000 Act[^f00549];
- (e) a magistrates’ court may transfer a fine to be enforced to another court, see sections 89 and 90 of the 1980 Act[^f00550].
Application to review sentence because of assistance given or withheld
42.11
- (1) This rule applies where the Crown Court can reduce or increase a sentence on application by a prosecutor in a case in which—
- (a) since being sentenced, the defendant has assisted, or has agreed to assist, an investigator or prosecutor in relation to an offence; or
- (b) since receiving a reduced sentence for agreeing to give such assistance, the defendant has failed to do so.
- (2) A prosecutor who wants the court to exercise that power must—
- (a) apply in writing as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the grounds for doing so;
- (b) serve the application on—
- (i) the court officer, and
- (ii) the defendant; and
- (c) in the application—
- (i) explain why the sentence should be reduced, or increased, as appropriate, and
- (ii) identify any other matter relevant to the court’s decision, including any sentencing guideline or guideline case.
- (3) The general rule is that the application must be determined by the judge who passed the sentence, unless that judge is unavailable.
- (4) The court must not determine the application in the defendant’s absence unless the defendant has had an opportunity to make representations at a hearing (whether or not the defendant in fact attends).
[Note. Under section 73 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005[^f00557], the Crown Court may pass a lesser sentence than it otherwise would have passed because the defendant has assisted, or has agreed to assist, an investigator or prosecutor in relation to an offence.
PART 43
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 44 — BREACH, REVOCATION AND AMENDMENT OF COMMUNITY AND OTHER ORDERS
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| When this Part applies | rule 44.1 |
| Application by responsible officer or supervisor | rule 44.2 |
| Application by defendant or person affected | rule 44.3 |
| Procedure on application by responsible officer or supervisor | rule 44.4 |
When this Part applies
44.1
This Part applies where—
- (a) the person responsible for a defendant’s compliance with an order to which applies—
- (i) Schedule 3, 5, 7 or 8 to the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000[^f00559],
- (ii) Schedule 8 or 12 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003[^f00560],
- (iii) Schedule 2 to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008[^f00561], or
- (iv) the Schedule to the Street Offences Act 1959[^f00562]
wants the court to deal with that defendant for failure to comply;
- (b) one of the following wants the court to exercise any power it has to revoke or amend such an order—
- (i) the responsible officer or supervisor,
- (ii) the defendant, or
- (iii) where the legislation allows, a person affected by the order; or
- (c) the court considers exercising on its own initiative any power it has to revoke or amend such an order.
[Note. In the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000—
- (a) Schedule 3 deals with the breach, revocation and amendment of curfew orders and exclusion orders;
- (b) Schedule 5 deals with the breach, revocation and amendment of attendance centre orders;
- (c) Schedule 7 deals with the breach, revocation and amendment of supervision orders;
- (d) Schedule 8 deals with the breach, revocation and amendment of action plan orders and reparation orders; and
- (e) Schedules 3, 5 and 7 are repealed, with savings for existing orders, by the relevant provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008; and, with savings for existing orders, Schedule 8 no longer refers to action plan orders.
Application by responsible officer or supervisor
44.2
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) the responsible officer or supervisor wants the court to—
- (i) deal with a defendant for failure to comply with an order to which this Part applies, or
- (ii) revoke or amend such an order; or
- (b) the court considers exercising on its own initiative any power it has to—
- (i) revoke or amend such an order, and
- (ii) summon the defendant to attend for that purpose.
- (2) Rules 7.2 to 7.4, which deal, among other things, with starting a prosecution in a magistrates’ court by information and summons, apply—
- (a) as if—
- (i) a reference in those rules to an allegation of an offence included a reference to an allegation of failure to comply with an order to which this Part applies, and
- (ii) a reference to the prosecutor included a reference to the responsible officer or supervisor; and
- (b) with the necessary consequential modifications.
Application by defendant or person affected
44.3
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) the defendant wants the court to exercise any power it has to revoke or amend an order to which this Part applies; or
- (b) where the legislation allows, a person affected by such an order wants the court to exercise any such power.
- (2) That defendant, or person affected, must—
- (a) apply in writing, explaining why the order should be revoked or amended; and
- (b) serve the application on—
- (i) the court officer,
- (ii) the responsible officer or supervisor, and
- (iii) as appropriate, the defendant or the person affected.
Procedure on application by responsible officer or supervisor
44.4
- (1) Except for rule 37.8, the rules in Part 37, which deal with the procedure at a trial in a magistrates’ court, apply—
- (a) as if—
- (i) a reference in those rules to an allegation of an offence included a reference to an allegation of failure to comply with an order to which this Part applies,
- (ii) a reference to the court’s verdict included a reference to the court’s decision to revoke or amend such an order, or to exercise any other power it has to deal with the defendant, and
- (iii) a reference to the court’s sentence included a reference to the exercise of any such power; and
- (b) with the necessary consequential modifications.
- (2) The court officer must serve on each party any order revoking or amending an order to which this Part applies.
PART 45
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 46
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 47
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 48
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 49
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 50 — CIVIL BEHAVIOUR ORDERS AFTER VERDICT OR FINDING
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| When this Part applies | rule 50.1 |
| Behaviour orders: general rules | rule 50.2 |
| Application for behaviour order and notice of terms of proposed order: special rules | rule 50.3 |
| Evidence to assist the court: special rules | rule 50.4 |
| Application to vary or revoke behaviour order | rule 50.5 |
| Notice of hearsay evidence | rule 50.6 |
| Cross-examination of maker of hearsay statement | rule 50.7 |
| Credibility and consistency of maker of hearsay statement | rule 50.8 |
| Court’s power to vary requirements under this Part | rule 50.9 |
[Note. See Part 3 for the court’s general powers to consider an application and to give directions.]
When this Part applies
50.1
- (1) This Part applies in magistrates’ courts and in the Crown Court where the court could decide to make, vary or revoke a civil order—
- (a) under a power that the court can exercise after reaching a verdict or making a finding, and
- (b) that requires someone to do, or not do, something.
- (2) A reference to a ‘behaviour order’ in this Part is a reference to any such order.
- (3) A reference to ‘hearsay evidence’ in this Part is a reference to evidence consisting of hearsay within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Civil Evidence Act 1995[^f00563].
[Note. In the circumstances set out in the Acts listed, the court can make a behaviour order:
- (a) on conviction, under—
- (i) section 14A of the Football Spectators Act 1989[^f00564](football banning orders),
- (ii) section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997[^f00565](restraining orders),
- (iii) sections 1C and 1D of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998[^f00566](anti-social behaviour orders and interim anti-social behaviour orders),
- (iv) sections 8 and 9 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998[^f00567](parenting orders),
- (v) section 104 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003[^f00568](sexual offences prevention orders),
- (vi) section 19 of the Serious Crime Act 2007[^f00569](serious crime prevention orders),
- (vii) section 6 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006[^f00570](drinking banning orders);
- (b) on acquittal, under section 5A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997[^f00571](restraining orders on acquittal); and
- (c) on the making of a finding of (i) not guilty by reason of insanity, or (ii) disability, under section 104 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sexual offences prevention orders).
Behaviour orders: general rules
50.2
- (1) The court must not make a behaviour order unless the person to whom it is directed has had an opportunity—
- (a) to consider—
- (i) what order is proposed and why, and
- (ii) the evidence in support; and
- (b) to make representations at a hearing (whether or not that person in fact attends).
- (2) That restriction does not apply to making an interim behaviour order, but such an order has no effect unless the person to whom it is directed—
- (a) is present when it is made; or
- (b) is handed a document recording the order not more than 7 days after it is made.
- (3) Where the court decides not to make, where it could—
- (a) a football banning order;
- (b) a parenting order, after a person under 16 is convicted of an offence; or
- (c) a drinking banning order,
the court must announce, at a hearing in public, the reasons for its decision.
[Note. The Acts listed in the note to rule 50.1 impose requirements specific to each different type of behaviour order. Not all allow the court to make an interim behaviour order.
Application for behaviour order and notice of terms of proposed order: special rules
50.3
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) a prosecutor wants the court to make—
- (i) an anti-social behaviour order, or
- (ii) a serious crime prevention order; or
- (b) a prosecutor proposes a sexual offences prevention order, on the prosecutor’s initiative or at the court’s request,
if the defendant is convicted.
- (2) Where paragraph (1)(a) applies, the prosecutor must serve a notice of intention to apply for such an order on—
- (a) the court officer;
- (b) the defendant against whom the prosecutor wants the court to make the order; and
- (c) any person on whom the order would be likely to have a significant adverse effect,
as soon as practicable (without waiting for the verdict).
- (3) A notice under paragraph (2) must—
- (a) summarise the relevant facts;
- (b) identify the evidence on which the prosecutor relies in support;
- (c) attach any written statement that the prosecutor has not already served; and
- (d) specify the order that the prosecutor wants the court to make.
- (4) A defendant served with a notice under paragraph (2) must—
- (a) serve written notice of any evidence on which the defendant relies on—
- (i) the court officer, and
- (ii) the prosecutor,
as soon as practicable (without waiting for the verdict); and
- (b) in the notice, identify that evidence and attach any written statement that has not already been served.
- (5) Where paragraph (1)(b) applies, the prosecutor must—
- (a) serve a draft order on the court officer and on the defendant not less than 2 business days before the hearing at which the order may be made; and
- (b) in the draft order, specify those prohibitions which the prosecutor proposes as necessary for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant.
- (6) This rule does not apply to an application for an interim anti-social behaviour order.
[Note. The Practice Direction sets out a form of notice for use in connection with this rule.
Evidence to assist the court: special rules
50.4
- (1) This rule applies where the court can make on its own initiative—
- (a) a football banning order;
- (b) a restraining order;
- (c) an anti-social behaviour order; or
- (d) a drinking banning order.
- (2) A party who wants the court to take account of evidence not already introduced must—
- (a) serve notice in writing on—
- (i) the court officer, and
- (ii) every other party,
as soon as practicable (without waiting for the verdict); and
- (b) in the notice, identify that evidence; and
- (c) attach any written statement containing such evidence.
[Note. If a party relies on hearsay evidence, see also rules 50.6, 50.7, and 50.8.]
Application to vary or revoke behaviour order
50.5
- (1) The court may vary or revoke a behaviour order if—
- (a) the legislation under which it is made allows the court to do so; and
- (b) one of the following applies—
- (i) the prosecutor,
- (ii) the person to whom the order is directed,
- (iii) any other person mentioned in the order,
- (iv) the relevant authority or responsible officer,
- (v) the relevant Chief Officer of Police, or
- (vi) the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- (2) A person applying under this rule must—
- (a) apply in writing as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the grounds for doing so, explaining—
- (i) what material circumstances have changed since the order was made, and
- (ii) why the order should be varied or revoked as a result; and
- (b) serve the application on—
- (i) the court officer,
- (ii) as appropriate, the prosecutor or defendant, and
- (iii) any other person listed in paragraph (1)(b), if the court so directs.
- (3) A party who wants the court to take account of any particular evidence before making its decision must, as soon as practicable—
- (a) serve notice in writing on—
- (i) the court officer,
- (ii) as appropriate, the prosecutor or defendant, and
- (iii) any other person listed in paragraph (1)(b) on whom the court directed the application to be served; and
- (b) in that notice identify the evidence and attach any written statement that has not already been served.
- (4) The court may decide an application under this rule with or without a hearing.
- (5) But the court must not—
- (a) dismiss an application under this rule unless the applicant has had an opportunity to make representations at a hearing (whether or not the applicant in fact attends); or
- (b) allow an application under this rule unless everyone required to be served, by this rule or by the court, has had at least 14 days in which to make representations, including representations about whether there should be a hearing.
- (6) The court officer must—
- (a) serve the application on any person, if the court so directs; and
- (b) give notice of any hearing to—
- (i) the applicant, and
- (ii) any person required to be served, by this rule or by the court.
[Note. The legislation that gives the court power to make a behaviour order may limit the circumstances in which it may be varied or revoked and may require a hearing.
Notice of hearsay evidence
50.6
- (1) A party who wants to introduce hearsay evidence must—
- (a) serve a notice in writing on—
- (i) the court officer, and
- (ii) every other party directly affected; and
- (b) in that notice—
- (i) explain that it is a notice of hearsay evidence,
- (ii) identify that evidence,
- (iii) identify the person who made the statement which is hearsay, or explain why if that person is not identified, and
- (iv) explain why that person will not be called to give oral evidence.
- (2) A party may serve one notice under this rule in respect of more than one notice and more than one witness.
[Note. For the time within which to serve a notice of hearsay evidence, see rule 50.3(2) to (4), rule 50.4(2) and rule 50.5(3). See also the requirement in section 2 of the Civil Evidence Act 1995 for reasonable and practicable notice of a proposal to introduce hearsay evidence.
Cross-examination of maker of hearsay statement
50.7
- (1) This rule applies where a party wants the court’s permission to cross-examine a person who made a statement which another party wants to introduce as hearsay.
- (2) The party who wants to cross-examine that person must—
- (a) apply in writing, with reasons, not more than 7 days after service of the notice of hearsay evidence; and
- (b) serve the application on—
- (i) the court officer,
- (ii) the party who served the hearsay evidence notice, and
- (iii) every party on whom the hearsay evidence notice was served.
- (3) The court may decide an application under this rule with or without a hearing.
- (4) But the court must not—
- (a) dismiss an application under this rule unless the applicant has had an opportunity to make representations at a hearing (whether or not the applicant in fact attends); or
- (b) allow an application under this rule unless everyone served with the application has had at least 7 days in which to make representations, including representations about whether there should be a hearing.
[Note. See also section 3 of the Civil Evidence Act 1995.]
Credibility and consistency of maker of hearsay statement
50.8
- (1) This rule applies where a party wants to challenge the credibility or consistency of a person who made a statement which another party wants to introduce as hearsay.
- (2) The party who wants to challenge the credibility or consistency of that person must—
- (a) serve a written notice of intention to do so on—
- (i) the court officer, and
- (ii) the party who served the notice of hearsay evidence
not more than 7 days after service of that hearsay evidence notice; and
- (b) in the notice, identify any statement or other material on which that party relies.
- (3) The party who served the hearsay notice—
- (a) may call that person to give oral evidence instead; and
- (b) if so, must serve a notice of intention to do so on—
- (i) the court officer, and
- (ii) every party on whom he served the hearsay notice
not more than 7 days after service of the notice under paragraph (2).
[Note. Section 5(2) of the Civil Evidence Act 1995 describes the procedure for challenging the credibility of the maker of a statement of which hearsay evidence is introduced. See also section 6 of that Act. The 1995 Act does not allow the introduction of evidence of a previous inconsistent statement otherwise than in accordance with sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1865[^f00577].]
Court’s power to vary requirements under this Part
50.9
The court may—
- (a) shorten a time limit or extend it (even after it has expired);
- (b) allow a notice or application to be given in a different form, or presented orally.
PART 51
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 52 — ENFORCEMENT OF FINES AND OTHER ORDERS FOR PAYMENT
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| When this Part applies | rule 52.1 |
| Exercise of court’s powers | rule 52.2 |
| Duty to give receipt | rule 52.3 |
| Appeal against decision of fines officer | rule 52.4 |
| Application to reduce a fine or vary payment terms | rule 52.5 |
| Claim to avoid fine after penalty notice | rule 52.6 |
| Information to be included in a warrant to take goods, etc. | rule 52.7 |
| Execution of a warrant to take goods, etc. | rule 52.8 |
| Sale of goods taken under a warrant | rule 52.9 |
| Financial penalties imposed in other European Union member states | rule 52.10 |
[Note. Part 18 contains rules about warrants for arrest, detention or imprisonment, including such warrants issued for failure to pay fines, etc.
Part 37 contains rules about the procedure on sentencing in a magistrates’ court.
Part 42 contains rules about the exercise of a magistrates’ court’s powers to enforce an order made by another court.]
When this Part applies
52.1
- (1) This Part applies where a magistrates’ court can enforce payment of—
- (a) a fine, or a sum that legislation requires the court to treat as a fine; or
- (b) any other sum that a court has ordered to be paid—
- (i) on a conviction, or
- (ii) on the forfeiture of a surety.
- (2) Rules 52.7 to 52.9 apply where the court, or a fines officer, issues a warrant that requires someone to—
- (a) take control of goods or money belonging to the defendant;
- (b) remove and sell any such goods; and
- (c) pay any such money, and any proceeds of such a sale, to the court officer towards payment of a sum to which this Part applies.
- (3) In this Part—
- (a) ‘defendant’ means anyone liable to pay a sum to which this Part applies;
- (b) ‘payment terms’ means by when, and by what (if any) instalments, such a sum must be paid.
[Note. For the means by which a magistrates’ court may enforce payment, see—
- (a) Part 3 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980[^f00578]; and
- (b) Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003[^f00579]and The Fines Collection Regulations 2006[^f00580].
Exercise of court’s powers
52.2
The court must not exercise its enforcement powers unless—
- (a) the court officer has served on the defendant any collection order or other notice of—
- (i) the obligation to pay,
- (ii) the payment terms, and
- (iii) how and where the defendant must pay; and
- (b) the defendant has failed to comply with the payment terms.
[Note. See section 76 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980[^f00582]; and paragraphs 12 and 13 of Schedule5 to the Courts Act 2003[^f00583].]
Duty to give receipt
52.3
- (1) This rule applies where the defendant makes a payment to—
- (a) the court officer specified in an order or notice served under rule 52.2;
- (b) another court officer;
- (c) any—
- (i) custodian of the defendant,
- (ii) supervisor appointed to encourage the defendant to pay, or
- (iii) responsible officer appointed under a community sentence or a suspended sentence of imprisonment; or
- (d) a person executing a warrant to which rule 18.6 (warrants for arrest, detention or imprisonment that cease to have effect on payment) or this Part applies.
- (2) The person receiving the payment must—
- (a) give the defendant a receipt; and
- (b) as soon as practicable transmit the payment to the court officer specified in an order or notice served under rule 52.2, if the recipient is not that court officer.
[Note. For the effect of payment to a person executing a warrant to which—
- (a) rule 18.6 applies, see that rule and sections 79[^f00584]and 125(1)[^f00585]of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980;
- (b) this Part applies, see rule 52.8(5).
Appeal against decision of fines officer
52.4
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) a collection order is in force;
- (b) a fines officer makes a decision under one of these paragraphs of Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003[^f00587]—
- (i) paragraph 22 (Application to fines officer for variation of order or attachment of earnings order, etc.),
- (ii) paragraph 31[^f00588] (Application to fines officer for variation of reserve terms), or
- (iii) paragraph 37[^f00589] (Functions of fines officer in relation to defaulters: referral or further steps notice); and
- (c) the defendant wants to appeal against that decision.
- (2) Unless the court otherwise directs, the defendant must—
- (a) appeal in writing not more than 10 business days after the decision;
- (b) serve the appeal on the court officer; and
- (c) in the appeal—
- (i) explain why a different decision should be made, and
- (ii) specify the decision that the defendant proposes.
- (3) Where the court determines an appeal, the general rule is that it must do so at a hearing.
[Note. Under paragraph 12 of Schedule 5 to the Courts Act 2003, where a collection order is in force the court’s powers to deal with the defendant’s liability to pay the sum for which that order was made are subject to the provisions of that Schedule and to fines collection regulations.
Application to reduce a fine or vary payment terms
52.5
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) no collection order is in force; and
- (b) the defendant wants the court to—
- (i) reduce the amount of a fine, or
- (ii) vary payment terms.
- (2) Unless the court otherwise directs, the defendant must—
- (a) apply in writing;
- (b) serve the application on the court officer; and
- (c) in the application, explain—
- (i) what relevant circumstances have not yet been considered by the court, and
- (ii) why the fine should be reduced, or the payment terms varied.
[Note. See sections 75, 85 and 85A of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980[^f00591].]
Claim to avoid fine after penalty notice
52.6
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) a chief officer of police serves on the magistrates’ court officer a certificate registering, for enforcement as a fine, a sum payable by a defendant after failure to comply with a penalty notice; and
- (b) the court or a fines officer enforces the fine.
- (2) A defendant who claims not to be the person to whom the penalty notice was issued must, unless the court otherwise directs—
- (a) make that claim in writing; and
- (b) serve it on the court officer.
- (3) The court officer must—
- (a) notify the chief officer of police by whom the certificate was registered; and
- (b) refer the case to the court.
- (4) Where such a claim is made—
- (a) the general rule is that the court must adjourn the enforcement for 28 days and fix a hearing; but
- (b) the court may make a different order.
- (5) At any such hearing, the chief officer of police must introduce any evidence to contradict the defendant’s claim.
[Note. See section 10 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001[^f00592].
Information to be included in a warrant to take goods, etc.
52.7
- (1) A warrant must identify—
- (a) each person to whom it is directed;
- (b) the defendant against whom it was issued;
- (c) the sum for which it was issued and the reason that sum is owed;
- (d) the court or fines officer who issued it, unless that is otherwise recorded by the court officer; and
- (e) the court office for the court or fines officer who issued it.
- (2) A person to whom a warrant is directed must record on it the date and time at which it is received.
- (3) A warrant that contains an error is not invalid, as long as—
- (a) it was issued in respect of a lawful decision by the court or fines officer; and
- (b) it contains enough information to identify that decision.
[Note. See sections 78 and 125ZA of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980[^f00594].]
Execution of a warrant to take goods, etc.
52.8
- (1) A warrant may be executed by—
- (a) any person to whom it is directed; or
- (b) anyone authorised to do so by section 125 (warrants), 125A (civilian enforcement officers) or 125B (execution by approved enforcement agency) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980[^f00595].
- (2) The person who executes a warrant must—
- (a) explain, in terms the defendant can understand—
- (i) the order or decision that the warrant was issued to enforce,
- (ii) the sum for which the warrant was issued, and
- (iii) any extra sum payable in connection with the execution of the warrant;
- (b) show the defendant the warrant, if that person has it;
- (c) if the defendant asks—
- (i) arrange for the defendant to see the warrant, if that person does not have it, and
- (ii) show the defendant any written statement of that person’s authority required by section 125A or 125B of the 1980 Act; and
- (d) clearly mark any goods that are taken under the warrant, unless that person removes those goods at once.
- (3) These goods must not be taken under the warrant—
- (a) clothes or bedding used by the defendant or by anyone living with the defendant;
- (b) tools, books, vehicles or other equipment that the defendant needs to use in the defendant’s employment, business or vocation, unless the defendant is a corporation.
- (4) Unless the court otherwise directs, or the defendant otherwise agrees, if the person who executes the warrant takes household goods they must not be removed until the day of sale.
- (5) The warrant no longer has effect if—
- (a) there is paid to the person executing it the sum for which it was issued and any extra sum payable in connection with its execution;
- (b) those sums are offered to, but refused by, that person; or
- (c) that person—
- (i) is shown a receipt given under rule 52.3 for the sum for which the warrant was issued, and
- (ii) is paid any extra sum payable in connection with its execution.
[Note. Under section 125 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, a warrant issued by a magistrates’ court may be executed by any person to whom it is directed or by any constable acting within that constable’s police area.
Sale of goods taken under a warrant
52.9
- (1) Unless the court otherwise directs or the defendant otherwise agrees, goods taken under a warrant must be sold—
- (a) at public auction; and
- (b) as soon as reasonably practicable after the expiry of 5 business days from the date of execution of the warrant.
- (2) After a sale, the person who executed the warrant must, as soon as reasonably practicable—
- (a) collect the proceeds of sale;
- (b) deduct any sum payable in connection with the execution of the warrant;
- (c) pay the court officer specified in an order or notice served under rule 52.2 the sum for which the warrant was issued;
- (d) pay any balance remaining to the defendant; and
- (e) deliver an account of those deductions and payments to the court officer.
Financial penalties imposed in other European Union member States
52.10
- (1) This rule applies where the Lord Chancellor gives the court officer a request to enforce a financial penalty imposed in another European Union member State.
- (2) The court officer must serve on the defendant—
- (a) notice of the request for enforcement, and of its effect;
- (b) a copy of—
- (i) the certificate requesting enforcement, and
- (ii) the decision requiring payment to which that certificate relates; and
- (c) notice that the procedure set out in this rule applies.
- (3) A defendant who wants the court to refuse enforcement must—
- (a) serve notice of objection on the court officer;
- (b) unless the court otherwise directs, serve that notice not more than 14 days after service of notice of the request; and
- (c) in the notice of objection—
- (i) identify each ground for refusal on which the defendant relies,
- (ii) summarise any relevant facts not already included in the certificate and decision served with the notice of the request, and
- (iii) identify any other document that the defendant thinks the court will need to determine the request (and serve any such document with the notice).
- (4) The court—
- (a) may determine a request for enforcement—
- (i) at a hearing, which must be in public unless the court otherwise directs, or
- (ii) without a hearing; but
- (b) must not allow enforcement unless the defendant has had at least 14 days in which to serve notice of objection.
- (5) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply if, on receipt of the request, the court decides that a ground for refusal applies.
- (6) The court officer must serve on the Lord Chancellor notice of the court’s decision.
[Note. Under section 84 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008[^f00597]—
- (a) the Lord Chancellor may receive—
- (i) a certificate issued in another European Union member State, requesting enforcement of a financial penalty to which applies the Framework Decision of the Council of the European Union 2005/214/JHA, as amended by Council Framework Decision 2009/299/JHA, on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to financial penalties; and
- (ii) the decision requiring payment of the penalty to which that certificate relates; and
- (b) the Lord Chancellor must then give the court officer—
- (i) that certificate and that decision, and
- (ii) a notice stating whether the Lord Chancellor thinks that any of the grounds for refusal of the request apply, and giving reasons for that opinion.
PART 53
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 54
[Note. There are no rules in this Part.]
PART 55 — ROAD TRAFFIC PENALTIES
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| Application to remove a disqualification from driving | rule 55.1 |
| Information to be supplied on order for endorsement of driving record, etc. | rule 55.2 |
| Statutory declaration to avoid fine after fixed penalty notice | rule 55.3 |
| Application for declaration about a course or programme certificate decision | rule 55.4 |
| Appeal against recognition of foreign driving disqualification | rule 55.5 |
[Note. Part 37 contains rules about the general procedure on sentencing in a magistrates’ court.]
Application to remove a disqualification from driving
55.1
- (1) This rule applies where, on application by the defendant, the court can remove a disqualification from driving.
- (2) A defendant who wants the court to exercise that power must—
- (a) apply in writing, no earlier than the date on which the court can exercise the power;
- (b) serve the application on the court officer; and
- (c) in the application—
- (i) specify the disqualification that the defendant wants the court to remove, and
- (ii) explain why.
- (3) The court officer must serve a copy of the application on the chief officer of police for the local justice area.
[Note. For the circumstances in which the court may remove a disqualification from driving imposed under section 34 or 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988[^f00598], see section 42 of the Act[^f00599]. The court may not consider an application made within 2 years of the disqualification, in any case; or, after that, before a specified period has expired.]
Information to be supplied on order for endorsement of driving record, etc.
55.2
- (1) This rule applies where the court—
- (a) convicts the defendant of an offence involving obligatory endorsement, and orders there to be endorsed on the defendant’s driving record and on any counterpart licence—
- (i) particulars of the conviction,
- (ii) particulars of any disqualification from driving that the court imposes, and
- (iii) the penalty points to be attributed to the offence;
- (b) disqualifies the defendant from driving for any other offence; or
- (c) suspends or removes a disqualification from driving.
- (2) The court officer must, as soon as practicable, serve on the Secretary of State notice that includes details of—
- (a) where paragraph (1)(a) applies—
- (i) the local justice area in which the court is acting,
- (ii) the dates of conviction and sentence,
- (iii) the offence, and the date on which it was committed,
- (iv) the sentence, and
- (v) the date of birth, and sex, of the defendant, where those details are available;
- (b) where paragraph (1)(b) applies—
- (i) the date and period of the disqualification,
- (ii) the power exercised by the court;
- (c) where paragraph (1)(c) applies—
- (i) the date and period of the disqualification,
- (ii) the date and terms of the order for its suspension or removal,
- (iii) the power exercised by the court, and
- (iv) where the court suspends the disqualification pending appeal, the court to which the defendant has appealed.
[Note. See sections 39(3), 42(5), 44A and 47 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988[^f00600].
Statutory declaration to avoid fine after fixed penalty notice
55.3
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) a chief officer of police, or the Secretary of State, serves on the magistrates’ court officer a certificate registering, for enforcement as a fine, a sum payable by a defendant after failure to comply with a fixed penalty notice;
- (b) the court officer notifies the defendant of the registration; and
- (c) the defendant makes a statutory declaration with the effect that—
- (i) the fixed penalty notice, or any associated notice sent to the defendant as owner of the vehicle concerned, and
- (ii) the registration and any enforcement proceedings
become void.
- (2) The defendant must serve that statutory declaration not more than 21 days after service of notice of the registration, unless the court extends that time limit.
- (3) The court officer must—
- (a) serve a copy of the statutory declaration on the person by whom the certificate was registered;
- (b) cancel any endorsement on the defendant’s driving record and on any counterpart licence; and
- (c) notify the Secretary of State of any such cancellation.
[Note. See sections 72(1), (6), (6A), 73(1) and 74(2) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988[^f00608].
Application for declaration about a course or programme certificate decision
55.4
- (1) This rule applies where the court can declare unjustified—
- (a) a course provider’s failure or refusal to give a certificate of the defendant’s satisfactory completion of an approved course; or
- (b) a programme provider’s giving of a certificate of the defendant’s failure fully to participate in an approved programme.
- (2) A defendant who wants the court to exercise that power must—
- (a) apply in writing, not more than 28 days after—
- (i) the date by which the defendant was required to complete the course, or
- (ii) the giving of the certificate of failure fully to participate in the programme;
- (b) serve the application on the court officer; and
- (c) in the application, specify the course or programme and explain (as applicable)—
- (i) that the course provider has failed to give a certificate,
- (ii) where the course provider has refused to give a certificate, why the defendant disagrees with the reasons for that decision, or
- (iii) where the programme provider has given a certificate, why the defendant disagrees with the reasons for that decision.
- (3) The court officer must serve a copy of the application on the course or programme provider.
- (4) The court must not determine the application unless the defendant, and the course or programme provider, each has had an opportunity to make representations at a hearing (whether or not either in fact attends).
[Note. For the circumstances in which the court may reduce a road traffic penalty on condition that the defendant attend an approved course, or take part in an approved programme, see sections 30A, 34A and 34D of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988[^f00611].
Appeal against recognition of foreign driving disqualification
55.5
- (1) This rule applies where—
- (a) a Minister gives a disqualification notice under section 57 of the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003[^f00613]; and
- (b) the person to whom it is given wants to appeal under section 59 of the Act[^f00614] to a magistrates’ court.
- (2) That person (‘the appellant’) must serve an appeal notice on—
- (a) the court officer, at a magistrates’ court in the local justice area in which the appellant lives; and
- (b) the Minister, at the address given in the disqualification notice.
- (3) The appellant must serve the appeal notice within the period for which section 59 of the 2003 Act provides.
- (4) The appeal notice must—
- (a) attach a copy of the disqualification notice;
- (b) explain which of the conditions in section 56 of the 2003 Act[^f00615] is not met, and why section 57 of the Act therefore does not apply; and
- (c) include any application to suspend the disqualification, under section 60 of the Act[^f00616].
- (5) The Minister may serve a respondent’s notice, and must do so if—
- (a) the Minister wants to make representations to the court; or
- (b) the court so directs.
- (6) The Minister must—
- (a) unless the court otherwise directs, serve any such respondent’s notice not more than 14days after—
- (i) the appellant serves the appeal notice, or
- (ii) a direction to do so;
- (b) in any such respondent’s notice—
- (i) identify the grounds of opposition on which the Minister relies,
- (ii) summarise any relevant facts not already included in the disqualification and appeal notices, and
- (iii) identify any other document that the Minister thinks the court will need to decide the appeal (and serve any such document with the notice).
- (7) Where the court determines an appeal, the general rule is that it must do so at a hearing (which must be in public, unless the court otherwise directs).
- (8) The court officer must serve on the Minister—
- (a) notice of the outcome of the appeal;
- (b) notice of any suspension of the disqualification; and
- (c) the appellant’s driving licence, if surrendered to the court officer.
[Note. Section 56 of the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 sets out the conditions for recognition in the United Kingdom of a foreign driving disqualification, and provides that section 57 of the Act applies where they are met. Under section 57, the appropriate Minister may, and in some cases must, give the person concerned notice that he or she is disqualified in the UK, too, and for what period.
PART 56 — CONFISCATION PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1988 AND THE DRUG TRAFFICKING ACT 1994
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| Statements, etc. relevant to making confiscation orders | rule 56.1 |
| Postponed determinations | rule 56.2 |
| Confiscation orders – revised assessments | rule 56.3 |
| Application to the Crown Court to discharge or vary order | |
| to make material available | rule 56.4 |
| Application to the Crown Court for increase in | |
| term of imprisonment in default of payment | rule 56.5 |
| Drug trafficking – compensation on acquittal | |
| in the Crown Court | rule 56.6 |
Statements, etc. relevant to making confiscation orders
56.1
- (1) Where a prosecutor or defendant―
- (a) tenders to a magistrates’ court any statement or other document under section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988[^f00618] in any proceedings in respect of an offence listed in Schedule 4 to that Act; or
- (b) tenders to the Crown Court any statement or other document under section 11 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994[^f00619] or section 73 of the 1988 Act in any proceedings in respect of a drug trafficking offence or in respect of an offence to which Part VI of the 1988 Act applies,
he must serve a copy as soon as practicable on the defendant or the prosecutor, as the case may be.
- (2) Any statement tendered by the prosecutor to the magistrates’ court under section 73 of the 1988 Act or to the Crown Court under section 11(1) of the 1994 Act or section 73(1A) of the 1988 Act shall include the following particulars—
- (a) the name of the defendant;
- (b) the name of the person by whom the statement is made and the date on which it was made;
- (c) where the statement is not tendered immediately after the defendant has been convicted, the date on which and the place where the relevant conviction occurred; and
- (d) such information known to the prosecutor as is relevant to the determination as to whether or not the defendant has benefited from drug trafficking or relevant criminal conduct and to the assessment of the value of his proceeds of drug trafficking or, as the case may be, benefit from relevant criminal conduct.
- (3) Where, in accordance with section 11(7) of the 1994 Act or section 73(1C) of the 1988 Act, the defendant indicates the extent to which he accepts any allegation contained within the prosecutor’s statement, if he indicates the same in writing to the prosecutor, he must serve a copy of that reply on the court officer.
- (4) Expressions used in this rule shall have the same meanings as in the 1994 Act or, where appropriate, the 1988 Act.
[Note. The relevant provisions of the 1988 and 1994 Acts were repealed on 24th March 2003, but they continue to have effect in respect of proceedings for offences committed before that date.]
Postponed determinations
56.2
- (1) Where an application is made by the defendant or the prosecutor –
- (a) to a magistrates’ court under section 72A(5)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988[^f00620] asking the court to exercise its powers under section 72A(4) of that Act; or
- (b) to the Crown Court under section 3(5)(a) of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994[^f00621] asking the Court to exercise its powers under section 3(4) of that Act, or under section 72A(5)(a) of the 1988 Act asking the court to exercise its powers under section 72A(4) of the 1988 Act,
the application must be made in writing and a copy must be served on the prosecutor or the defendant, as the case may be.
- (2) A party served with a copy of an application under paragraph (1) shall, within 28 days of the date of service, notify the applicant and the court officer, in writing, whether or not he proposes to oppose the application, giving his reasons for any opposition.
- (3) After the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph (2), the court shall determine whether an application under paragraph (1) is to be dealt with—
- (a) without a hearing; or
- (b) at a hearing at which the parties may be represented.
[Note. The relevant provisions of the 1988 and 1994 Acts were repealed on 24th March 2003, but they continue to have effect in respect of proceedings for offences committed before that date.]
Confiscation orders - revised assessments
56.3
- (1) Where the prosecutor makes an application under section 13, 14 or 15 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994[^f00622] or section 74A, 74B or 74C of the Criminal Justice Act 1988[^f00623], the application must be in writing and a copy must be served on the defendant.
- (2) The application must include the following particulars—
- (a) the name of the defendant;
- (b) the date on which and the place where any relevant conviction occurred;
- (c) the date on which and the place where any relevant confiscation order was made or, as the case may be, varied;
- (d) the grounds on which the application is made; and
- (e) an indication of the evidence available to support the application.
[Note. The relevant provisions of the 1988 and 1994 Acts were repealed on 24th March 2003, but they continue to have effect in respect of proceedings for offences committed before that date.]
Application to the Crown Court to discharge or vary order to make material available
56.4
- (1) Where an order under section 93H of the Criminal Justice Act 1988[^f00624] (order to make material available) or section 55 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994[^f00625] (order to make material available) has been made by the Crown Court, any person affected by it may apply in writing to the court officer for the order to be discharged or varied, and on hearing such an application a circuit judge may discharge the order or make such variations to it as he thinks fit.
- (2) Subject to paragraph (3), where a person proposes to make an application under paragraph (1) for the discharge or variation of an order, he shall give a copy of the application, not later than 48 hours before the making of the application—
- (a) to a constable at the police station specified in the order; or
- (b) to the office of the appropriate officer who made the application, as specified in the order,
in either case together with a notice indicating the time and place at which the application for discharge or variation is to be made.
- (3) A circuit judge may direct that paragraph (2) need not be complied with if he is satisfied that the person making the application has good reason to seek a discharge or variation of the order as soon as possible and it is not practicable to comply with that paragraph.
- (4) In this rule:
- ‘constable’ includes a person commissioned by the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;
- ‘police station’ includes a place for the time being occupied by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
[Note. The relevant provision of the 1988 Act was repealed on 24th February 2003, but it continues to have effect in respect of proceedings for offences committed before that date.]
Application to the Crown Court for increase in term of imprisonment in default of payment
56.5
- (1) This rule applies to applications made, or that have effect as made, to the Crown Court under section 10 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994[^f00626] and section 75A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988[^f00627] (interest on sums unpaid under confiscation orders).
- (2) Notice of an application to which this rule applies to increase the term of imprisonment or detention fixed in default of payment of a confiscation order by a person (‘the defendant’) shall be made by the prosecutor in writing to the court officer.
- (3) A notice under paragraph (2) shall—
- (a) state the name and address of the defendant;
- (b) specify the grounds for the application;
- (c) give details of the enforcement measures taken, if any; and
- (d) include a copy of the confiscation order.
- (4) On receiving a notice under paragraph (2), the court officer shall—
- (a) forthwith send to the defendant and the magistrates’ court required to enforce payment of the confiscation order under section 140(1) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000[^f00628], a copy of the said notice; and
- (b) notify in writing the applicant and the defendant of the date, time and place appointed for the hearing of the application.
- (5) Where the Crown Court makes an order pursuant to an application mentioned in paragraph (1) above, the court officer shall send forthwith a copy of the order—
- (a) to the applicant;
- (b) to the defendant;
- (c) where the defendant is at the time of the making of the order in custody, to the person having custody of him; and
- (d) to the magistrates’ court mentioned in paragraph (4)(a).
[Note. The relevant provisions of the 1988 and 1994 Acts were repealed on 24th March 2003, but they continue to have effect in respect of proceedings for offences committed before that date.]
Drug trafficking – compensation on acquittal in the Crown Court
56.6
Where a Crown Court cancels a confiscation order under section 22(2) of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994[^f00629], the court officer shall serve notice to that effect on the High Court and on the magistrates’ court which has responsibility for enforcing the order.
[Note. The relevant provision of the 1994 Act was repealed on 24th March 2003, but it continues to have effect in respect of proceedings for offences committed before that date.]
PART 57 — PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT 2002: RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL PROCEEDINGS
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| Interpretation | rule 57.1 |
| Calculation of time | rule 57.2 |
| Court office closed | rule 57.3 |
| Application for registration of Scottish or | |
| Northern Ireland order | rule 57.4 |
| Application to vary or set aside registration | rule 57.5 |
| Register of orders | rule 57.6 |
| Statements of truth | rule 57.7 |
| Use of witness statements for other purposes | rule 57.8 |
| Expert evidence | rule 57.9 |
| Exceptions to procedure for expert evidence | rule 57.10 |
| Service of documents | rule 57.11 |
| Service outside the jurisdiction | rule 57.12 |
| Certificates of service | rule 57.13 |
| External requests and orders | rule 57.14 |
Interpretation
57.1
In this Part and in Parts 58, 59, 60 and 61:
- ‘document’ means anything in which information of any description is recorded;
- ‘hearsay evidence’ means evidence consisting of hearsay within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Civil Evidence Act 1995[^f00630];
- ‘restraint proceedings’ means proceedings under sections 42 and 58(2) and (3) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00631];
- ‘receivership proceedings’ means proceedings under sections 48, 49, 50, 51, 54(4), 59(2) and (3), 62 and 63 of the 2002 Act[^f00632];
- ‘witness statement’ means a written statement signed by a person which contains the evidence, and only that evidence, which that person would be allowed to give orally; and words and expressions used have the same meaning as in Part 2 of the 2002 Act.
Calculation of time
57.2
- (1) This rule shows how to calculate any period of time for doing any act which is specified by this Part and Parts 58, 59, 60 and 61 for the purposes of any proceedings under Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or by an order of the Crown Court in restraint proceedings or receivership proceedings.
- (2) A period of time expressed as a number of days shall be computed as clear days.
- (3) In this rule ‘clear days’ means that in computing the number of days—
- (a) the day on which the period begins; and
- (b) if the end of the period is defined by reference to an event, the day on which that event occurs,
are not included.
- (4) Where the specified period is five days or less and includes a day which is not a business day that day does not count.
Court office closed
57.3
When the period specified by this Part or Parts 58, 59, 60 and 61, or by an order of the Crown Court under Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, for doing any act at the court office falls on a day on which the office is closed, that act shall be in time if done on the next day on which the court office is open.
Application for registration of Scottish or Northern Ireland order
57.4
- (1) This rule applies to an application for registration of an order under article 6 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Enforcement in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2002[^f00633].
- (2) The application may be made without notice.
- (3) The application must be in writing and may be supported by a witness statement which must—
- (a) exhibit the order or a certified copy of the order; and
- (b) to the best of the witness’s ability, give full details of the realisable property located in England and Wales in respect of which the order was made and specify the person holding that realisable property.
- (4) If the court registers the order, the applicant must serve notice of the registration on—
- (a) any person who holds realisable property to which the order applies; and
- (b) any other person whom the applicant knows to be affected by the order.
- (5) The permission of the Crown Court under rule 57.13 is not required to serve the notice outside England and Wales.
Application to vary or set aside registration
57.5
- (1) An application to vary or set aside registration of an order under article 6 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Enforcement in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2002 may be made to the Crown Court by—
- (a) any person who holds realisable property to which the order applies; and
- (b) any other person affected by the order.
- (2) The application must be in writing and may be supported by a witness statement.
- (3) The application and any witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application must be served on the person who applied for registration at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court specifies a shorter period.
- (5) No property in England and Wales may be realised in pursuance of the order before the Crown Court has decided the application.
Register of orders
57.6
- (1) The Crown Court must keep, under the direction of the Lord Chancellor, a register of the orders registered under article 6 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Enforcement in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2002.
- (2) The register must include details of any variation or setting aside of a registration under rule 57.5 and of any execution issued on a registered order.
- (3) If the person who applied for registration of an order which is subsequently registered notifies the Crown Court that the court which made the order has varied or discharged the order, details of the variation or discharge, as the case may be, must be entered in the register.
Statements of truth
57.7
- (1) Any witness statement required to be served by this Part or by Parts 58, 59, 60 or 61 must be verified by a statement of truth contained in the witness statement.
- (2) A statement of truth is a declaration by the person making the witness statement to the effect that the witness statement is true to the best of his knowledge and belief and that he made the statement knowing that, if it were tendered in evidence, he would be liable to prosecution if he wilfully stated in it anything which he knew to be false or did not believe to be true.
- (3) The statement of truth must be signed by the person making the witness statement.
- (4) If the person making the witness statement fails to verify the witness statement by a statement of truth, the Crown Court may direct that it shall not be admissible as evidence.
Use of witness statements for other purposes
57.8
- (1) Except as provided by this rule, a witness statement served in proceedings under Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 may be used only for the purpose of the proceedings in which it is served.
- (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if and to the extent that—
- (a) the witness gives consent in writing to some other use of it;
- (b) the Crown Court gives permission for some other use; or
- (c) the witness statement has been put in evidence at a hearing held in public.
Expert evidence
57.9
- (1) A party to proceedings under Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 who wishes to adduce expert evidence (whether of fact or opinion) in the proceedings must, as soon as practicable—
- (a) serve on the other parties a statement in writing of any finding or opinion which he proposes to adduce by way of such evidence; and
- (b) serve on any party who requests it in writing, a copy of (or if it appears to the party proposing to adduce the evidence to be more practicable, give the requesting party a reasonable opportunity to examine)—
- (i) the record of any observation, test, calculation or other procedure on which the finding or opinion is based, and
- (ii) any document or other thing or substance in respect of which the observation, test, calculation or other procedure mentioned in paragraph (1)(b)(i) has been carried out.
- (2) A party may serve notice in writing waiving his right to be served with or given any of the matters mentioned in paragraph (1) and, in particular, may agree that the statement mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) may be given to him orally and not served in writing.
- (3) If a party who wishes to adduce expert evidence in proceedings under Part 2 of the 2002 Act fails to comply with this rule he may not adduce that evidence in those proceedings without the leave of the court, except where rule 57.10 applies.
Exceptions to procedure for expert evidence
57.10
- (1) If a party has reasonable grounds for believing that the disclosure of any evidence in compliance with rule 57.9 might lead to the intimidation, or attempted intimidation, of any person on whose evidence he intends to rely in the proceedings, or otherwise to the course of justice being interfered with, he shall not be obliged to comply with those requirements in relation to that evidence, unless the Crown Court orders otherwise.
- (2) Where, in accordance with paragraph (1), a party considers that he is not obliged to comply with the requirements imposed by rule 57.9 with regard to any evidence in relation to any other party, he must serve notice in writing on that party stating—
- (a) that the evidence is being withheld; and
- (b) the reasons for withholding the evidence.
Service of documents
57.11
- (1) Rule 32.1 (notice required to accompany process served outside the United Kingdom and translations) shall not apply in restraint proceedings and receivership proceedings.
- (2) An order made in restraint proceedings or receivership proceedings may be enforced against the defendant or any other person affected by it notwithstanding that service of a copy of the order has not been effected in accordance with Part 4 of these Rules if the Crown Court is satisfied that the person had notice of the order by being present when the order was made.
Service outside the jurisdiction
57.12
- (1) Where this Part requires a document to be served on someone who is outside England and Wales, it may be served outside England and Wales with the permission of the Crown Court.
- (2) Where a document is to be served outside England and Wales it may be served by any method permitted by the law of the country in which it is to be served.
- (3) Nothing in this rule or in any court order shall authorise or require any person to do anything in the country where the document is to be served which is against the law of that country.
- (4) Where this Part requires a document to be served a certain period of time before the date of a hearing and the recipient does not appear at the hearing, the hearing must not take place unless the Crown Court is satisfied that the document has been duly served.
Certificates of service
57.13
- (1) Where this Part requires that the applicant for an order in restraint proceedings or receivership proceedings serve a document on another person, the applicant must lodge a certificate of service with the Crown Court within seven days of service of the document.
- (2) The certificate must state—
- (a) the method of service;
- (b) the date of service; and
- (c) if the document is served under rule 4.9, such other information as the court may require when making the order permitting service by an alternative method.
- (3) Where a document is to be served by the Crown Court in restraint proceedings and receivership proceedings and the court is unable to serve it, the court must send a notice of non-service stating the method attempted to the party who requested service.
External requests and orders
57.14
- (1) The rules in this Part and in Parts 59 to 61 and 71 to 73 apply with the necessary modifications to proceedings under The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005[^f00634] in the same way that they apply to corresponding proceedings under Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00635].
- (2) This table shows how provisions of the 2005 Order correspond with provisions of the 2002 Act.
| Article of The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 | Section of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 |
|---|---|
| 8 | 41 |
| 9 | 42 |
| 10 | 43 |
| 11 | 44 |
| 15 | 48 |
| 16 | 49 |
| 17 | 58 |
| 23 | 31 |
| 27 | 50 |
| 28 | 51 |
| 41 | 62 |
| 42 | 63 |
| 44 | 65 |
| 45 | 66 |
PART 58 — PROCEEDS OF CRIME ACT 2002: RULES APPLICABLE ONLY TO CONFISCATION PROCEEDINGS
| Contents of this Part | |
|---|---|
| Statements in connection with confiscation orders | rule 58.1 |
| Postponement of confiscation proceedings | rule 58.2 |
| Application for reconsideration | rule 58.3 |
| Application for new calculation of available amount | rule 58.4 |
| Variation of confiscation order due to inadequacy of | |
| available amount | rule 58.5 |
| Application by magistrates’ court officer to discharge | |
| confiscation order | rule 58.6 |
| Application for variation of confiscation order made | |
| against an absconder | rule 58.7 |
| Application for discharge of confiscation order made | |
| against an absconder | rule 58.8 |
| Application for increase in term of imprisonment in default | rule 58.9 |
| Compensation – general | rule 58.10 |
| Compensation – confiscation order made against absconder | rule 58.11 |
| Payment of money in bank or building society account | |
| in satisfaction of confiscation order | rule 58.12 |
Statements in connection with confiscation orders
58.1
- (1) When the prosecutor is required, under section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00636], to give a statement to the Crown Court, the prosecutor must also, as soon as practicable, serve a copy of the statement on the defendant.
- (2) Any statement given to the Crown Court by the prosecutor under section 16 of the 2002 Act must, in addition to the information required by the 2002 Act, include the following information—
- (a) the name of the defendant;
- (b) the name of the person by whom the statement is made and the date on which it is made; and
- (c) where the statement is not given to the Crown Court immediately after the defendant has been convicted, the date on which and the place where the relevant conviction occurred.
- (3) Where, under section 17 of the 2002 Act, the Crown Court orders the defendant to indicate the extent to which he accepts each allegation in a statement given by the prosecutor, the defendant must indicate this in writing to the prosecutor and must give a copy to the Crown Court.
- (4) Where the Crown Court orders the defendant to give to it any information under section 18 of the 2002 Act, the defendant must provide the information in writing and must, as soon as practicable, serve a copy of it on the prosecutor.
Postponement of confiscation proceedings
58.2
The Crown Court may grant a postponement under section 14(1)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 without a hearing.
Application for reconsideration
58.3
- (1) This rule applies where the prosecutor makes an application under section 19, 20 or 21 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00637].
- (2) The application must be in writing and give details of—
- (a) the name of the defendant;
- (b) the date on which and the place where any relevant conviction occurred;
- (c) the date on which and the place where any relevant confiscation order was made or varied;
- (d) the grounds for the application; and
- (e) an indication of the evidence available to support the application.
- (3) The application must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application must be served on the defendant at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court specifies a shorter period.
Application for new calculation of available amount
58.4
- (1) This rule applies where the prosecutor or a receiver makes an application under section 22 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00638] for a new calculation of the available amount.
- (2) The application must be in writing and may be supported by a witness statement.
- (3) The application and any witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application and any witness statement must be served on—
- (a) the defendant;
- (b) the receiver, if the prosecutor is making the application and a receiver has been appointed under section 50 of the 2002 Act; and
- (c) the prosecutor, if the receiver is making the application,
at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court specifies a shorter period.
Variation of confiscation order due to inadequacy of available amount
58.5
- (1) This rule applies where the defendant or a receiver makes an application under section 23 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00639] for the variation of a confiscation order.
- (2) The application must be in writing and may be supported by a witness statement.
- (3) The application and any witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application and any witness statement must be served on—
- (a) the prosecutor;
- (b) the defendant, if the receiver is making the application; and
- (c) the receiver, if the defendant is making the application and a receiver has been appointed under section 50 of the 2002 Act,
at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court specifies a shorter period.
Application by magistrates’ court officer to discharge confiscation order
58.6
- (1) This rule applies where a magistrates’ court officer makes an application under section 24 or 25 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00640] for the discharge of a confiscation order.
- (2) The application must be in writing and give details of—
- (a) the confiscation order;
- (b) the amount outstanding under the order; and
- (c) the grounds for the application.
- (3) The application must be served on—
- (a) the defendant;
- (b) the prosecutor; and
- (c) any receiver appointed under section 50 of the 2002 Act.
- (4) The Crown Court may determine the application without a hearing unless a person listed in paragraph (3) indicates, within seven days after the application was served on him, that he would like to make representations.
- (5) If the Crown Court makes an order discharging the confiscation order, the court must, at once, send a copy of the order to—
- (a) the magistrates’ court officer who applied for the order;
- (b) the defendant;
- (c) the prosecutor; and
- (d) any receiver appointed under section 50 of the 2002 Act.
Application for variation of confiscation order made against an absconder
58.7
- (1) This rule applies where the defendant makes an application under section 29 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for the variation of a confiscation order made against an absconder.
- (2) The application must be in writing and supported by a witness statement which must give details of—
- (a) the confiscation order made against an absconder under section 6 of the 2002 Act as applied by section 28 of the 2002 Act;
- (b) the circumstances in which the defendant ceased to be an absconder;
- (c) the defendant’s conviction of the offence or offences concerned; and
- (d) the reason why he believes the amount required to be paid under the confiscation order was too large.
- (3) The application and witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application and witness statement must be served on the prosecutor at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court specifies a shorter period.
Application for discharge of confiscation order made against an absconder
58.8
- (1) This rule applies if the defendant makes an application under section 30 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for the discharge of a confiscation order.
- (2) The application must be in writing and supported by a witness statement which must give details of—
- (a) the confiscation order made under section 28 of the 2002 Act;
- (b) the date on which the defendant ceased to be an absconder;
- (c) the acquittal of the defendant if he has been acquitted of the offence concerned; and
- (d) if the defendant has not been acquitted of the offence concerned—
- (i) the date on which the defendant ceased to be an absconder,
- (ii) the date on which the proceedings taken against the defendant were instituted and a summary of steps taken in the proceedings since then, and
- (iii) any indication given by the prosecutor that he does not intend to proceed against the defendant.
- (3) The application and witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application and witness statement must be served on the prosecutor at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court specifies a shorter period.
- (5) If the Crown Court orders the discharge of the confiscation order, the court must serve notice on the magistrates’ court responsible for enforcing the order.
Application for increase in term of imprisonment in default
58.9
- (1) This rule applies where the prosecutor makes an application under section 39(5) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002[^f00641] to increase the term of imprisonment in default of payment of a confiscation order.
- (2) The application must be made in writing and give details of—
- (a) the name and address of the defendant;
- (b) the confiscation order;
- (c) the grounds for the application; and
- (d) the enforcement measures taken, if any.
- (3) On receipt of the application, the court must—
- (a) at once, send to the defendant and the magistrates’ court responsible for enforcing the order, a copy of the application; and
- (b) fix a time, date and place for the hearing and notify the applicant and the defendant of that time, date and place.
- (4) If the Crown Court makes an order increasing the term of imprisonment in default, the court must, at once, send a copy of the order to—
- (a) the applicant;
- (b) the defendant;
- (c) where the defendant is in custody at the time of the making of the order, the person having custody of the defendant; and
- (d) the magistrates’ court responsible for enforcing the order.
Compensation – general
58.10
- (1) This rule applies to an application for compensation under section 72 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
- (2) The application must be in writing and may be supported by a witness statement.
- (3) The application and any witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
- (4) The application and any witness statement must be served on—
- (a) the person alleged to be in default; and
- (b) the person or authority by whom the compensation would be payable under section 72(9) or 302(7A)[^f00642] of the 2002 Act (or if the compensation is payable out of a police fund under section 72(9)(a) or 302(7A), the chief officer of the police force concerned),
at least seven days before the date fixed by the court for hearing the application, unless the Crown Court directs otherwise.
Compensation – confiscation order made against absconder
58.11
- (1) This rule applies to an application for compensation under section 73 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
- (2) The application must be in writing and supported by a witness statement which must give details of—
- (a) the confiscation order made under section 28 of the 2002 Act;
- (b) the variation or discharge of the confiscation order under section 29 or 30 of the 2002 Act;
- (c) the realisable property to which the application relates; and
- (d) the loss suffered by the applicant as a result of the confiscation order.
- (3) The application and witness statement must be lodged with the Crown Court.
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