# Prosecution of Offences Act 1985

* related portals: Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
* sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item
* Date of Commencement: 23 May 1985 (ss. 11-13, 15 (irt. ss. 11-13), Part IV (except s. 31(5)-(6))) (s. 31(2))
* Date of Commencement: 1 April 1986 (ss. 24, 28, para. 4-5 Sch. 1, Sch. 2 (partially)) (S.I. 1985/1849)
* Date of Commencement: 1 April 1986 (Part I (except s. 9), ss. 23, 25-27, para. 1-3 Sch. 1, Sch. 2 (partially)) (S.I. 1985/1849) (For specified counties)
** (Specified counties: Durham, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Northumberland, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire)
* Date of Commencement: 1 October 1986 (Part I (except s. 9), ss. 23, 25-27, para. 1-3 Sch. 1, Sch. 2 (partially)) (S.I. 1986/1029) (For the rest of E&W)
* Date of Commencement: 1 October 1986 (s. 22) (S.I. 1986/1029)
* Date of Commencement: 5 April 1987 (s. 9) (S.I. 1986/1029)
* Date of Commencement: 1 October 1986 (Part II, Sch. 1 and 2 (remainder)) (S.I. 1986/1334)
See this legislation with any revisons at legislation.gov.uk .
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Prosecution of Offences Act 1985
CHAPTER 23
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Part I The Crown Prosecution Service :
| Constitution and functions of Service ||
| Section | |
| 1. | The Crown Prosecution Service. |
| 2. | The Director of Public Prosecutions. |
| 3. | Functions of the Director. |
| 4. | Crown Prosecutors. |
| 5. | Conduct of prosecutions on behalf of the Service. |
| 6. | Prosecutions instituted and conducted otherwise than by the Service. |
| 7. | Delivery of recognizances etc. to Director. |
| Reports ||
| 8. | Reports to Director by chief officers of police. |
| 9. | Reports by Director to Attorney General. |
| Guidelines ||
| 10. | Guidelines for Crown Prosecutors. |
| Transfer of staff, etc. ||
| 11. | Transfer of staff. |
| 12. | Staff commission. |
| 13. | Premises formerly used in connection with Director’s new functions. |
| Miscellaneous ||
| 14. | Control of certain fees and expenses etc. paid by the Service. |
| 15. | Interpretation of Part I. ​ |
| Part II Costs in Criminal Cases ||
| Award of costs out of central funds ||
| 16. | Defence costs. |
| 17. | Prosecution costs. |
| Award of costs against accused ||
| 18. | Award of costs against accused. |
| Other awards ||
| 19. | Provision for orders as to costs in other circumstances. |
| Supplemental ||
| 20. | Regulations. |
| 21. | Interpretation, etc. |
| Part III Miscellaneous ||
| 22. | Power of Secretary of State to set time limits in relation to preliminary stages of criminal proceedings. |
| 23. | Discontinuance of proceedings in magistrates’ courts. |
| 24. | Restriction of vexatious prosecutions. |
| 25. | Consents to prosecutions etc. |
| 26. | Consents to be admissible in evidence. |
| 27. | Care proceedings involving allegation of offences. |
| 28. | Repeal of s. 9 of Perjury Act 1911. |
| Part IV Supplemental ||
| 29. | Regulations. |
| 30. | Expenses. |
| 31. | Short title, commencement and extent etc. |
| | Schedules: |
| | Schedule 1—Minor and consequential amendments. |
| | Schedule 2—Repeals. |
ELIZABETH II
Prosecution of Offences Act 1985
1985 CHAPTER 23
An Act to provide for the establishment of a Crown Prosecution Service for England and Wales; to make provision as to costs in criminal cases; to provide for the imposition of time limits in relation to preliminary stages of criminal proceedings; to amend section 42 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 and section 3 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969; to make provision with respect to consents to prosecutions; to repeal section 9 of the Perjury Act 1911; and for connected purposes.[23rd May 1985]
Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Part I The Crown Prosecution Service
Constitution and functions of Service
The Crown Prosecution Service. 1.—(1) There shall be a prosecuting service for England and Wales (to be known as the “Crown Prosecution Service”) consisting of—
    (a) the Director of Public Prosecutions, who shall be head of the Service; ​
    (b) the Chief Crown Prosecutors, designated under subsection (4) below, each of whom shall be the member of the Service responsible to the Director for supervising the operation of the Service in his area; and
    (c) the other staff appointed by the Director under this section.
(2) The Director shall appoint such staff for the Service as, with the approval of the Treasury as to numbers, remuneration and other terms and conditions of service, be considers necessary for the discharge of his functions.
(3) The Director may designate any member of the Service who is a barrister or solicitor for the purposes of this subsection, and any person so designated shall be known as a Crown Prosecutor.
(4) The Director shall divide England and Wales into areas and, for each of those areas, designate a Crown Prosecutor for the purposes of this subsection and any person so designated shall be known as a Chief Crown Prosecutor.
(5) The Director may, from time to time, vary the division of England and Wales made for the purposes of subsection (4) above.
(6) Without prejudice to any functions which may have been assigned to him in his capacity as a member of the Service, every Crown Prosecutor shall have all the powers of the Director as to the institution and conduct of proceedings but shall exercise those powers under the direction of the Director.
(7) Where any enactment (whenever passed)—
    (a) prevents any step from being taken without the consent of the Director or without his consent or the consent of another; or
    (b) requires any step to be taken by or in relation to the Director;
any consent given by or, as the case may be, step taken by or in relation to, a Crown Prosecutor shall be treated, for the purposes of that enactment, as given by or, as the case may be, taken by or in relation to the Director.
The Director of Public Prosecutions. 2.—(1) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall be appointed by the Attorney General.
(2) The Director must be a barrister or solicitor of not less than ten years’ standing.
(3) There shall be paid to the Director such remuneration as the Attorney General may, with the approval of the Treasury, determine.
​Functions of the Director. 3.—(1) The Director shall discharge his functions under this or any other enactment under the superintendence of the Attorney General.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Director—
    (a) to take over the conduct of all criminal proceedings, other than specified proceedings, instituted on behalf of a police force (whether by a member of that force or by any other person);
    (b) to institute and have the conduct of criminal proceedings in any case where it appears to him that—
       (i) the importance or difficulty of the case makes it appropriate that proceedings should be instituted by him; or
       (ii) it is otherwise appropriate for proceedings to be instituted by him;
    (c) to take over the conduct of all binding over proceedings instituted on behalf of a police force (whether by a member of that force or by any other person);
    (d) to take over the conduct of all proceedings begun by summons issued under section 3 of the 1959 c. 66.Obscene Publications Act 1959 (forfeiture of obscene articles);
    (e) to give, to such extent as he considers appropriate, advice to police forces on all matters relating to criminal offences;
    (f) to appear for the prosecution, when directed by the court to do so, on any appeal under—
       (i) section 1 of the 1960 c. 65.Administration of Justice Act 1960 (appeal from the High Court in criminal cases);
       (ii) Part I or Part II of the 1968 c. 19.Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (appeals from the Crown Court to the criminal division of the Court of Appeal and thence to the House of Lords); or
       (iii) section 108 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (right of appeal to Crown Court) as it applies, by virtue of subsection (5) of section 12 of the 1981 c. 49.Contempt of Court Act 1981, to orders made under section 12 (contempt of magistrates’ courts); and
    (g) to discharge such other functions as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Attorney General in pursuance of this paragraph.
​(3) In this section—
    “the court” means
       (a) in the case of an appeal to or from the criminal division of the Court of Appeal, that division;
       (b) in the case of an appeal from a Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division, the Divisional Court; and
       (c) in the case of an appeal against an order of a magistrates’ court, the Crown Court;
    “police force” means any police force maintained by a police authority under the 1964 c. 48.Police Act 1964 and any other body of constables for the time being specified by order made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section; and
    “specified proceedings” means proceedings which fall within any category for the time being specified by order made by the Attorney General for the purposes of this section.
(4) The power to make orders under subsection (3) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Crown Prosecutors. 4.—(1) Crown Prosecutors shall have, in any court, the rights of audience enjoyed by solicitors holding practising certificates and shall have such additional rights of audience in the Crown Court as may be given by virtue of subsection (3) below.
(2) The reference in subsection (1) above to rights of audience enjoyed in any court by solicitors includes a reference to rights enjoyed in the Crown Court by virtue of any direction given by the Lord Chancellor under section 83 of the 1981 c. 54.Supreme Court Act 1981.
(3) For the purpose of giving Crown Prosecutors additional rights of audience in the Crown Court, the Lord Chancellor may give any such direction as respects Crown Prosecutors as he could give under section 83 of the Act of 1981 in respect of solicitors.
(4) In section 88 of the 1974 c. 47.Solicitors Act 1974 (which, amongst other things, provides that solicitors in public departments are not required to hold practising certificates) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (1)—
    “(1A) The exemption from the requirement to hold a practising certificate conferred by subsection (1) above shall not apply to solicitors who are Crown Prosecutors.”
​(5) In section 11 of the Act of 1974 (fees payable on issue of practising certificates), the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (2)—
    “(2A) An order under subsection (1) may specify reduced fees for practising certificates which are issued to solicitors who are Crown Prosecutors.”
(6) In Schedule 2 to the Act of 1974 (the compensation fund), in paragraph 2, for the words “sub-paragraph (2)” there shall be substituted the words “sub-paragraphs (2) and (2A)” and after sub-paragraph (2) there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph—
    “(2A) Sub-paragraph (1) above shall not apply to any solicitor who is a Crown Prosecutor.”
Conduct of prosecutions on behalf of the Service. 5.—(1) The Director may at any time appoint a person who is not a Crown Prosecutor but who is—
    (a) a solicitor; or
    (b) a barrister who is a member of the staff of a public authority;
to institute or take over the conduct of such criminal proceedings as the Director may assign to him.
(2) Any person conducting proceedings assigned to him under this section shall have all the powers of a Crown Prosecutor but shall exercise those powers subject to any instructions given to him by a Crown Prosecutor.
Prosecutions instituted and conducted otherwise than by the Service. 6.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, nothing in this Part shall preclude any person from instituting any criminal proceedings or conducting any criminal proceedings to which the Director’s duty to take over the conduct of proceedings does not apply.
(2) Where criminal proceedings are instituted in circumstances in which the Director is not under a duty to take over their conduct, he may nevertheless do so at any stage.
Delivery of recognizances etc. to Director. 7.—(1) Where the Director or any Crown Prosecutor gives notice to any justice of the peace that he has instituted, or is conducting, any criminal proceedings, the justice shall—
    (a) at the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner; or
    (b) in a particular case, at the time and in the manner directed by the Attorney General;
send him every recognizance, information, certificate, deposition, document and thing connected with those proceedings which the justice is required by law to deliver to the appropriate officer of the Crown Court.
​(2) The Attorney General may make regulations for the purpose of supplementing this section; and in subsection (1) above “prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations.
(3) The Director or, as the case may be, Crown Prosecutor shall—
    (a) subject to the regulations, cause anything which is sent to him under subsection (1) above to be delivered to the appropriate officer of the Crown Court; and
    (b) be under the same obligation (on the same payment) to deliver to an applicant copies of anything so sent as that officer.
(4) It shall be the duty of every justices’ clerk to send to the Director, in accordance with the regulations, a copy of the information and of any depositions and other documents relating to any case in which
    (a) a prosecution for an offence before the magistrates’ court to which he is clerk is withdrawn or is not proceeded with within a reasonable time;
    (b) the Director does not have the conduct of the proceedings; and
    (c) there is some ground for suspecting that there is no satisfactory reason for the withdrawal or failure to proceed.
Reports
Reports to Director by chief officers of police. 8.—(1) The Attorney General may make regulations requiring the chief officer of any police force to which the regulations are expressed to apply to give to the Director information with respect to every offence of a kind prescribed by the regulations which is alleged to have been committed in his area and in respect of which it appears to him that there is a prima facie case for proceedings.
(2) The regulations may also require every such chief officer to give to the Director such information as the Director may require with respect to such cases or classes of case as he may from time to time specify.
Reports by Director to Attorney General. 9.—(1) As soon as practicable after 4th April in any year the Director shall make to the Attorney General a report on the discharge of his functions during the year ending with that date.
(2) The Attorney General shall lay before Parliament a copy of every report received by him under subsection (1) above and shall cause every such report to be published.
(3) The Director shall, at the request of the Attorney General, report to him on such matters as the Attorney General may specify.
Guidelines
Guidelines for Crown Prosecutors. 10. (1) The Director shall issue a Code for Crown Prosecutors giving guidance on general principles to be applied by them―
    (a) in determining, in any case―
       (i) whether proceedings for an offence should be instituted or, where proceedings have been instituted, whether they should be discontinued; or
       (ii) what charges should be preferred; and
    (b) in considering, in any case, representations to be made by them to any magistrates’ court about the mode of trial suitable for that case.
(2) The Director may from time to time make alterations in the Code.
(3) The provisions of the Code shall be set out in the Director’s report under section 9 of this Act for the year in which the Code is issued; and any alteration in the Code shall be set out in his report under that section for the year in which the alteration is made.
Transfer of staff, etc.
Transfer of staff. 11.—(1) The Attorney General may, with the approval of the Treasury, by regulations make such provision as he considers appropriate in relation to the transfer to the staff of the Director of such persons employed by any authority wholly or mainly in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions as may be specified in the regulations.
(2) The regulations may, in particular, make provision―
    (a) as to the method by which any staff or group of staff are transferred;
    (b) as to the terms and conditions of the transfer; and
    (c) for the termination of the employment with the authorities concerned of persons to whom the regulations apply (whether or not they are transferred in accordance with the regulations) and as to the consequences of that termination;
and (without prejudice to section 29(2) of this Act) may make different provision with respect to staff employed in different areas.
(3) The regulations may include provision for the determination of questions arising under them and may make such modifications in the application of any enactment as the Attorney General considers appropriate in connection with any provision of the regulations of a kind mentioned in subsection (2)(c) above.
​(4) Staff transferred in accordance with the regulations shall be exempt from any requirement to the effect that before a person is appointed to Her Majesty’s Home Civil Service a certificate of qualification must be issued in respect of him by the Civil Service Commissioners.
(5) For the purposes of Schedule 13 to the 1978 c. 44.Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (as it applies for the purposes of computing an employee’s period and continuity of employment for the purposes of that Act and any other enactment) in its application to a person who is transferred to the staff of the Director as a result of this Part—
    (a) the period of his employment in the employment from which he is transferred shall count as a period of Crown employment; and
    (b) the change of employment shall not break the continuity of his employment.
(6) Where a person ceases to be a member of the staff of an authority—
    (a) on becoming a member of the staff of the Service in consequence of any regulations made under this section; or
    (b) having unreasonably refused to be transferred in pursuance of the regulations;
he shall not, on ceasing to be a member of the staff of the authority, be treated for the purposes of any regulations or scheme made under the 1972 c. 11.Superannuation Act 1972 as having ceased to hold his employment by reason of redundancy.
(7) In this section “authority” means any police authority or other authority or body mentioned in section 17(6)(c) or (d) of this Act; and “police authority”, in relation to the metropolitan police district, means the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
Staff commission. 12.—(1) The Attorney General, after consulting such bodies representing authorities or persons employed by authorities as appear to him to be concerned, shall not later than three months after the passing of this Act, establish a staff commission for the purpose of—
    (a) considering the general effect of this Part on staff employed by any authority wholly or mainly in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions; and
    (b) advising the Attorney General and Director on the arrangements necessary to safeguard the interests of such staff.
​(2) The functions of the staff commission shall not extend to the giving of advice with respect to recruitment to, or the terms and conditions of service in, Her Majesty’s Home Civil Service.
(3) The Attorney General may give directions to the staff commission as to their procedure; and it shall be the duty of the commission to comply with the directions.
(4) Any expenses incurred by the staff commission under this section shall be paid by the Director.
(5) The Attorney General may give to any authority employing staff in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions, directions with respect to—
    (a) the furnishing of information to the staff commission;
    (b) the implementation of any advice given by the commission; or
    (c) any other matters connected with the employment of such staff;
and it shall be the duty of the authority to comply with the directions.
(6) In this section “authority” means any police authority or other authority or body mentioned in section 17(6)(c) or (d) of this Act; and “police authority”, in relation to the metropolitan police district, means the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
Premises formerly used in connection with Director’s new functions. 13.—(1) This section shall have effect―
    (a) as respects any premises which were, up to the transfer date, being used to any extent in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions; and
    (b) as respects the local authority or police authority who were providing the premises;
and shall have effect in particular to ensure that prosecutions, including proceedings in cases in the course of hearing on the transfer date, can be conducted without any interruption or interference in the transition to the arrangements for prosecuting offences established by this Part.
(2) On and after the transfer date it shall be the duty of the authority, to the extent to which the premises were being used in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions―
    (a) to make the premises available for the Service; or
    (b) where it is not reasonably practicable to make them so available, to make available for the Service premises which, in the opinion of the Director, are a suitable alternative.
​(3) It shall also be the duty of the authority to—
    (a) make available for the Service—
       (i) all fittings, furniture, equipment and other chattels previously made available for use in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions; or
       (ii) in a case falling within subsection (2)(b) above, those items or items which, in the opinion of the Director, are suitable alternatives;
    (b) provide such services and facilities as were previously provided by them in connection with the discharge of those functions;
    (c) heat any accommodation made available for the Service;
    (d) clean, light and maintain the premises and maintain anything else made available for the Service under this section; and
    (e) pay all outgoings in respect of the premises so made available.
(4) The Secretary of State shall pay to an authority making premises available under this section—
    (a) such amount as is a reasonable payment for the use of the premises;
    (b) the reasonable and necessary charges for heating, lighting and cleaning the premises; and
    (c) a fair contribution—
       (i) to the cost of any services or facilities provided by the authority in accordance with subsection (3)(b) above; and
       (ii) in respect of the maintenance of the premises and of anything else made available for the Service under this section.
(5) Where, immediately before the transfer date, the premises were occupied by the authority under a tenancy—
    (a) the obligations imposed on the authority by this section in relation to those premises shall, if they have not ended by virtue of subsection (6) or (7) below, come to an end
       (i) with the termination of the tenancy by the landlord in accordance with the provisions of Part II of the 1954 c. 56.Landlord and Tenant Act 1954; or
       (ii) where the provisions of sections 24 to 28 of that Act have been excluded in relation to the tenancy, on the date on which the term for which the ​tenancy is granted is due to expire by effluxion of time; and
    (b) for the purposes of Part II of the Act of 1954, the authority shall, while complying with those obligations, be taken to be occupying the premises for the purposes of a business carried on by them.
(6) The obligations imposed by this section on any authority in relation to any premises shall end with—
    (a) the expiry of the period of five years beginning with the transfer date; or
    (b) where the Secretary of State is of the opinion, in relation to those premises, that no suitable alternative premises will be available to the Service within that period, the expiry of such longer period (beginning with the transfer date and not exceeding ten years) as he may specify in a written notice given to the authority concerned before the expiry of the period of four years beginning with the transfer date.
(7) Where the Secretary of State—
    (a) is of the opinion that the obligations imposed by this section in relation to any premises can be brought to an end on a date earlier than that determined in accordance with subsection (6) above; and
    (b) has given the authority concerned such notice as he considers reasonable of his intention to bring those obligations to an end on the date specified in the notice;
they shall end on the date so specified.
(8) While the obligations imposed by this section are in force in relation to any premises, members of the Service shall, to the extent necessary to enable them to carry out their functions, enjoy the same rights and privileges in relation to the premises as were previously enjoyed by those occupying the premises in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions.
(9) In a case falling within subsection (2)(b) above, subsection (8) above shall not apply but the premises offered by the authority shall not be regarded as a suitable alternative unless the Director is satisfied that the members of the Service who will occupy the premises will have such rights and privileges in relation to them as will be necessary to enable those members to carry out their functions.
(10) An authority shall not be taken to have acted in breach of any covenant, condition, term or other provision by reason of their complying with any obligation imposed on them by this section.
​(11) Any question arising under this section shall, in the event of disagreement between the Secretary of State and the authority, be determined by such person as may be appointed for the purpose—
    (a) by the Secretary of State, with the agreement of the authority; or
    (b) failing that agreement, by the Lord Chancellor.
(12) Where the premises were provided jointly by two or more authorities, the obligations imposed by this section shall be shared among them in a way corresponding to that in which they provided the premises in connection with the discharge of prosecution functions.
(13) In this section—
    “police authority”, in relation to the metropolitan police. district, means the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District; and
    “transfer date”, in relation to any prosecution functions, means the date on which the staff in question were transferred to the staff of the Director.
Miscellaneous
Control of certain fees and expenses etc. paid by the Service. 14.—(1) The Attorney General may, with the approval of the Treasury, by regulations make such provision as he considers appropriate in relation to—
    (a) the fees of counsel briefed to appear on behalf of the Service in any criminal proceedings; and
    (b) the costs and expenses of witnesses attending to give. evidence at the instance of the Service.
(2) The regulations may, in particular―
    (a) prescribe scales or rates of fees, costs or expenses; and
    (b) specify conditions for the payment of fees, costs or expenses.
Interpretation of Part I. 15.—(1) In this Part—
    “binding over proceedings” means any proceedings instituted (whether by way of complaint under section 115 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 or otherwise) with a view to obtaining from a magistrates’ court an order requiring a person to enter into a recognizance to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour;
    “Director” means the Director of Public Prosecutions;
    “police force” has the same meaning as in section 3 of this Act;
    “prosecution functions” means functions which by virtue of this Part become functions of the Director; ​
    “public authority” has the same meaning as in section 17 of this Act;
    “Service” means the Crown Prosecution Service; and
    “solicitor” means a solicitor of the Supreme Court.
(2) For the purposes of this Part, proceedings in relation to an offence are instituted—
    (a) where a justice of the peace issues a summons under section 1 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, when the information for the offence is laid before him;
    (b) where a justice of the peace issues a warrant for the arrest of any person under that section, when the information for the offence is laid before him;
    (c) where a person is charged with the offence after being taken into custody without a warrant, when he is informed of the particulars of the charge;
    (d) where a bill of indictment is preferred under section 2 of the 1933 c. 36.Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 in a case falling within paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of that section, when the bill of indictment is preferred before the court;
and where the application of this subsection would result in there being more than one time for the institution of the proceedings, they shall be taken to have been instituted at the earliest of those times.
(3) For the purposes of this Part, references to the conduct of any proceedings include references to the proceedings being discontinued and to the taking of any steps (including the bringing of appeals and making of representations in respect of applications for bail) which may be taken in relation to them.
(4) For the purposes of sections 3(2)(b), 5, 6 and 7 (1) of this Act, binding over proceedings shall be taken to be criminal proceedings.
(5) For the purposes of section 5 of this Act, proceedings begun by summons issued under section 3 of the 1959 c. 66.Obscene Publications Act 1959 (forfeiture of obscene articles) shall be taken to be criminal proceedings.
(6) The functions which become functions of the Director by virtue of this Part shall be treated as transferred functions for the purposes of section 95 of the 1978 c. 44.Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 (effect of certain provisions where functions are transferred to the Crown) but shall not be so treated for the purposes of paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to the 1971 c. 56.Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (meaning of “last employing authority”).
​(7) The person who, immediately before the commencement of section 2 of this Act, holds the office of Director shall be treated on the commencement of that section as holding that office in pursuance of an appointment made by the Attorney General.
Part II Costs in Criminal Cases
Award of costs out of central funds
Defence costs. 16.—(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) a 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 committed for trial; 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 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ 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 1968 c. 19.Criminal Appeal Act 1968 against—
       (i) conviction; ​
       (ii) a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity; or
       (iii) a finding under section 4 of the 1964 c. 84.Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 that the appellant is under disability;
    (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); or
    (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);
the court may make a defendant’s costs order in favour of the accused.
(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 House of Lords 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 House of Lords under Part II of the 1968 c. 19.Criminal Appeal Act 1968; or
    (d) the House of Lords 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.
(7) Where a court makes a defendant’s costs order but is of the opinion that there are circumstances which make it inappropriate that the person in whose favour the order is made ​should recover the full amount mentioned in subsection (6) above, the court shall—
    (a) assess what amount would, in its opinion, be just and reasonable; and
    (b) specify that amount in the order.
(8) Where a defendant’s costs order is made in favour of a legally assisted person, any expenses incurred on his behalf pursuant to the legal aid order in question shall be disregarded in determining (for the purposes of this section) the amount of the expenses incurred by him in the proceedings.
(9) Subject to subsection (7) above, the amount to be paid out of central funds in pursuance of a defendant’s costs order shall—
    (a) be specified in the order, in any case where the court considers it appropriate for the amount to be so specified and the person in whose favour the order is made agrees the amount; and
    (b) in any other case, be determined in accordance with regulations made by the Lord Chancellor for the purposes of this section.
(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.
Prosecution costs. 17.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the court may—
    (a) in any proceedings in respect of an indictable offence; and
    (b) in any proceedings before a Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division or the House of Lords in respect of a summary offence;
order the payment out of central funds of such amount as the court considers reasonably sufficient to compensate the prosecutor for any expenses properly incurred by him in the proceedings.
​(2) No order under this section may be made in favour of—
    (a) a public authority; or
    (b) a person acting—
       (i) on behalf of a public authority; or
       (ii) in his capacity as an official appointed by such an authority.
(3) Where a court makes an order under this section but is of the opinion that there are circumstances which make it inappropriate that the prosecution should recover the full amount mentioned in subsection (1) above, the court shall—
    (a) assess what amount would, in its opinion, be just and reasonable; and
    (b) specify that amount in the order.
(4) Subject to subsection (3) above, the amount to be paid out of central funds in pursuance of an order under this section shall—
    (a) be specified in the order, in any case where the court considers it appropriate for the amount to be so specified and the prosecutor agrees the amount; and
    (b) in any other case, be determined in accordance with regulations made by the Lord Chancellor for the purposes of this section.
(5) Where the conduct of proceedings to which subsection (1) above applies is taken over by the Crown Prosecution Service, that subsection shall have effect as if it referred to the prosecutor who had the conduct of the proceedings before the intervention of the Service and to expenses incurred by him up to the time of intervention.
(6) In this section “public authority” means—
    (a) a police force within the meaning of section 3 of this Act;
    (b) the Crown Prosecution Service or any other government department;
    (c) a local authority or other authority or body constituted for purposes of—
       (i) the public service or of local government; or
       (ii) carrying on under national ownership any industry or undertaking or part of an industry or undertaking; or
    (d) any other authority or body whose members are appointed by Her Majesty or by any Minister of the Crown or government department or whose revenues consist wholly or mainly of money provided by Parliament.
Award of costs against accused
Award of costs against accused. 18.—(1) Where—
    (a) any person is convicted of an offence before a magistrates’ court;
    (b) the Crown Court dismisses an appeal against such a conviction or against the sentence imposed on that conviction; or
    (c) any person is convicted of an offence before the Crown Court;
the court may make such order as to the costs to be paid by the accused to the prosecutor as it considers just and reasonable.
(2) Where the Court of Appeal dismisses—
    (a) an appeal or application for leave to appeal under Part I of the 1968 c. 19.Criminal Appeal Act 1968; or
    (b) an application by the accused for leave to appeal to the House of Lords under Part II of that Act;
it may make such order as to the costs to be paid by the accused, to such person as may be named in the order, as it considers just and reasonable.
(3) The amount to be paid by the accused in pursuance of an order under this section shall be specified in the order.
(4) Where any person is convicted of an offence before a magistrates’ court and―
    (a) under the conviction the court orders payment of any sum as a fine, penalty, forfeiture or compensation; and
    (b) the sum so ordered to be paid does not exceed £5;
the court shall not order the accused to pay any costs under this section unless in the particular circumstances of the case it considers it right to do so.
(5) Where any person under the age of seventeen is convicted of an offence before a magistrates’ court, the amount of any costs ordered to be paid by the accused under this section shall not exceed the amount of any fine imposed on him.
(6) Costs ordered to be paid under subsection (2) above may include the reasonable cost of any transcript of a record of proceedings made in accordance with rules of court made for the purposes of section 32 of the Act of 1968.
Other awards
Provision for orders as to costs in other circumstances. 19.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision empowering magistrates’ courts, the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal, in any case where the court is satisfied that ​one party to criminal proceedings has incurred costs as a result of an unnecessary or improper act or omission by, or on behalf of, another party to the proceedings, to make an order as to the payment of those costs.
(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) above may, in particular—
    (a) allow the making of such an order at any time during the proceedings;
    (b) make provision as to the account to be taken, in making such an order, of any other order as to costs (including any legal aid order) which has been made in respect of the proceedings;
    (c) make provision as to the account to be taken of any such order in the making of any other order as to costs in respect of the proceedings; and
    (d) contain provisions similar to those in section 18(4) and (5) of this Act.
(3) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision for the payment out of central funds, in such circumstances and in relation to such criminal proceedings as may be specified, of such sums as appear to the court to be reasonably necessary—
    (a) to compensate any witness in the proceedings for the expense, trouble or loss of time properly incurred in or incidental to his attendance;
    (b) to cover the proper expenses of an interpreter who is required because of the accused’s lack of English;
    (c) to compensate a duly qualified medical practitioner who—
       (i) makes a report otherwise than in writing for the purpose of section 30 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (remand for medical examination); or
       (ii) makes a written report to a court in pursuance of a request to which section 32(2) of the 1967 c. 80.Criminal Justice Act 1967 (report by medical practitioner on medical condition of offender) applies;
    for the expenses properly incurred in or incidental to his reporting to the court.
(4) The Court of Appeal may order the payment out of central funds of such sums as appear to it to be reasonably sufficient to compensate an appellant who is not in custody and who appears before it on, or in connection with, his appeal under Part I of the 1968 c. 19.Criminal Appeal Act 1968.
(5) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations provide that any provision made by or under this Part which would not otherwise ​apply in relation to any category of proceedings in which an offender is before a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court shall apply in relation to proceedings of that category, subject to any specified modifications.
Supplemental
Regulations. 20.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may make regulations for carrying this Part into effect and the regulations may, in particular, make provision as to—
    (a) the scales or rates of payments of any costs payable out of central funds in pursuance of any costs order, the circumstances in which and conditions under which such costs may be allowed and paid and the expenses which may be included in such costs; and
    (b) the review, as respects costs payable out of central funds in pursuance of any costs order, of any decision on taxation, or determination of the amount, of the costs;
and any provision made by or under this Part enabling any sum to be paid out of central funds shall have effect subject to any such regulations.
(2) The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision for the recovery of sums paid out of the legal aid fund or central funds in cases where—
    (a) a costs order has been made against a party to proceedings; and
    (b) the person in whose favour the order was made is a legally assisted person or a person in whose favour a defendant’s costs order or, as the case may be, an order under section 17 of this Act has been made.
(3) Regulations made under subsection (1) above may provide that rates or scales of allowances payable out of central funds under a costs order shall be determined by the Lord Chancellor with the consent of the Treasury.
(4) Regulations made under subsection (2) above may, in particular
    (a) require the person mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection to pay sums due under the costs order in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor (either generally or in respect of the particular case); and
    (b) enable the Lord Chancellor to enforce those directions in cases to which they apply.
(5) Subsection (4) of section 61 of the 1979 c. 55.Justices of the Peace Act 1979 (regulations as to accounts of justices’ clerks) shall apply ​in relation to sums payable to the Lord Chancellor by virtue of regulations made under subsection (2) above as it applies in relation to sums payable to the Secretary of State under that section.
(6) Any regulations under this Part may contain such incidental and supplemental provisions as the Lord Chancellor considers appropriate.
(7) Before making any regulations under section 19(1) of this Act which affect the procedure of any court, the Lord Chancellor shall so far as is reasonably practicable consult any rule committee by whom, or on whose advice, rules of procedure for the court may be made or whose concurrence is required to any such rules.
(8) In this section “costs order” means—
    (a) an order made under or by virtue of this Part for payment to be made—
       (i) out of central funds; or
       (ii) by a party to proceedings; or
    (b) an order made in a criminal case by the House of Lords for the payment of costs by a party to proceedings.
Interpretation, etc. 21.—(1) In this Part—
    “defendant’s costs order” has the meaning given in section 16 of this Act;
    “legal aid order” means an order under any provision of section 28 of the 1974 c. 4.Legal Aid Act 1974 and includes, in relation to proceedings in a Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division, any certificate or other instrument under which legal aid is given;
    “legally assisted person” means a person to whom aid is ordered to be given by a legal aid order;
    “proceedings” includes—
       (a) proceedings in any court below; and
       (b) in relation to the determination of an appeal by any court, any application made to that court for leave to bring the appeal; and
    “witness” means any person properly attending to give evidence, whether or not he gives evidence or is called at the instance of one of the parties or of the court, but does not include a person attending as a witness to character only unless the court has certified that the interests of justice required his attendance.
​(2) Except as provided by or under this Part no costs shall be allowed on the hearing or determination of, or of any proceedings preliminary or incidental to, an appeal to the Court of Appeal under Part I of the 1968 c. 19.Criminal Appeal Act 1968.
(3) Subject to rules of court made under section 53(1) of the 1981 c. 54.Supreme Court Act 1981 (power by rules to distribute business of Court of Appeal between its civil and criminal divisions), the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal under this Part, or under regulations made under this Part, shall be exercised by the criminal division of that Court; and references in this Part to the Court of Appeal shall be construed as references to that division.
(4) For the purposes of sections 16 and 17 of this Act, the costs of any party to proceedings shall be taken to include the expense of compensating any witness for the expenses, trouble or loss of time properly incurred in or incidental to his attendance.
(5) Where, in any proceedings in a criminal cause or matter or in either of the cases mentioned in subsection (6) below, an interpreter is required because of the accused’s lack of English, the expenses properly incurred on his employment shall not be treated as costs of any party to the proceedings.
(6) The cases are—
    (a) where an information charging the accused with an offence is laid before a justice of the peace for any area but not proceeded with and the expenses are incurred on the employment of the interpreter for the proceedings on the information; and
    (b) where the accused is committed for trial but not tried and the expenses are incurred on the employment of the interpreter for the proceedings in the Crown Court.
Part III Miscellaneous
Power of Secretary of State to set time limits in relation to preliminary stages of criminal proceedings. 22.—(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision, with respect to any specified preliminary stage of proceedings for an offence, as to the maximum period—
    (a) to be allowed to the prosecution to complete that stage;
    (b) during which the accused may, while awaiting completion of that stage, be—
       (i) in the custody of a magistrates’ court; or
       (ii) in the custody of the Crown Court;
    in relation to that offence.
​(2) The regulations may, in particular—
    (a) be made so as to apply only in relation to proceedings instituted in specified areas;
    (b) make different provision with respect to proceedings instituted in different areas:
    (c) make such provision with respect to the procedure to be followed in criminal proceedings as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of any other provision of the regulations;
    (d) provide for the 1980 c. 43. 1976 c. 63.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 and the Bail Act 1976 to apply in relation to cases to which custody or overall time limits apply subject to such modifications as may be specified (being modifications which the Secretary of State considers necessary in consequence of any provision made by the regulations); and
    (e) make such transitional provision in relation to proceedings instituted before the commencement of any provision of the regulations as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(3) The appropriate court may, at any time before the expiry of a time limit imposed by the regulations, extend, or further extend, that limit if it is satisfied—
    (a) that there is good and sufficient cause for doing so ; and
    (b) that the prosecution has acted with all due expedition.
(4) Where, in relation to any proceedings for an offence, an overall time limit has expired before the completion of the stage of the proceedings to which the limit applies, the accused shall be treated, for all purposes, as having been acquitted of that offence.
(5) Where—
    (a) a person escapes from the custody of a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court before the expiry of a custody time limit which applies in his case; or
    (b) a person who has been released on bail in consequence of the expiry of a custody time limit—
       (i) fails to surrender himself into the custody of the court at the appointed time; or
       (ii) is arrested by a constable on a ground mentioned in section 7(3)(b) of the Bail Act 1976 (breach, or likely breach, of conditions of bail);
the regulations shall, so far as they provide for any custody time limit in relation to the preliminary stage in question, be disregarded.
​(6) Where—
    (a) a person escapes from the custody of a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court; or
    (b) a person who has been released on bail fails to surrender himself into the custody of the court at the appointed time;
the overall time limit which applies in his case in relation to the stage which the proceedings have reached at the time of the escape or, as the case may be, at the appointed time shall, so far as the offence in question is concerned, cease to have effect.
(7) Where a magistrates’ court decides to extend, or further extend, a custody or overall time limit, the accused may appeal against the decision to the Crown Court.
(8) Where a magistrates’ court refuses to extend, or further extend, a custody or overall time limit the prosecution may appeal against the refusal to the Crown Court.
(9) An appeal under subsection (8) above may not be commenced after the expiry of the limit in question; but where such an appeal is commenced before the expiry of the limit the limit shall be deemed not to have expired before the determination or abandonment of the appeal.
(10) Where a person is convicted of an offence in any proceedings, the exercise, in relation to any preliminary stage of those proceedings, of the power conferred by subsection (3) above shall not be called into question in any appeal against that conviction.
(11) In this section—
    “appropriate court” means—
       (a) where the accused has been committed for trial or indicted for the offence, the Crown Court; and
       (b) in any other case, the magistrates’ court specified in the summons or warrant in question or, where the accused has already appeared or been brought before a magistrates’ court, a magistrates’ court for the same area;
    “custody of the Crown Court” includes custody to which a person is committed in pursuance of—
       (a) section 6 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (magistrates’ court committing accused for trial); or
       (b) section 43A of that Act (magistrates’ court dealing with a person brought before it following his arrest in pursuance of a warrant issued by the Crown Court); ​
    “custody of a magistrates’ court” means custody to which a person is committed in pursuance of section 128 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (remand);
    “custody time limit” means a time limit imposed by regulations made under subsection (1)(b) above or, where any such limit has been extended by a court under subsection (3) above, the limit as so extended;
    “preliminary stage”, in relation to any proceedings, does not include any stage of the proceedings after the accused has been arraigned in the Crown Court or, in the case of a summary trial, the magistrates’ court has begun to hear evidence for the prosecution at the trial;
    “overall time limit” means a time limit imposed by regulations made under subsection (1)(a) above or, where any such limit has been extended by a court under subsection (3) above, the limit as so extended; and
    “specified” means specified in the regulations.
(12) For the purposes of the application of any custody time limit in relation to a person who is in the custody of a magistrates’ court or the Crown Court—
    (a) all periods during which he is in the custody of a magistrates’ court in respect of the same offence shall be aggregated and treated as a single continuous period; and
    (b) all periods during which he is in the custody of the Crown Court in respect of the same offence shall be aggregated and treated similarly.
(13) For the purposes of section 29(3) of the 1981 c. 54.Supreme Court Act 1981 (High Court to have power to make prerogative orders in relation to jurisdiction of Crown Court in matters which do not relate to trial on indictment) the jurisdiction conferred on the Crown Court by this section shall be taken to be part of its jurisdiction in matters other than those relating to trial on indictment.
Discontinuance of proceedings in magistrates’ courts. 23.—(1) Where the Director of Public Prosecutions has the conduct of proceedings for an offence, this section applies in relation to the preliminary stages of those proceedings.
(2) In this section, "preliminary stage" in relation to proceedings for an offence does not include—
    (a) in the case of a summary offence, any stage of the proceedings after the court has begun to hear evidence for the prosecution at the trial;
    (b) in the case of an indictable offence, any stage of the proceedings after—
       (i) the accused has been committed for trial; or ​
       (ii) the court has begun to hear evidence for the prosecution at a summary trial of the offence.
(3) Where, at any time during the preliminary stages of the proceedings, the Director gives notice under this section to the clerk of the court that he does not want the proceedings to continue, they shall be discontinued with effect from the giving of that notice but may be revived by notice given by the accused under subsection (7) below.
(4) Where, in the case of a person charged with an offence after being taken into custody without a warrant, the Director gives him notice, at a time when no magistrates’ court has been informed of the charge, that the proceedings against him are discontinued, they shall be discontinued with effect from the giving of that notice.
(5) The Director shall, in any notice given under subsection (3) above, give reasons for not wanting the proceedings to continue.
(6) On giving any notice under subsection (3) above the Director shall inform the accused of the notice and of the accused’s right to require the proceedings to be continued; but the Director shall not be obliged to give the accused any indication of his reasons for not wanting the proceedings to continue.
(7) Where the Director has given notice under subsection (3) above, the accused shall, if he wants the proceedings to continue, give notice to that effect to the clerk of the court within the prescribed period; and where notice is so given the proceedings shall continue as if no notice had been given by the Director under subsection (3) above.
(8) Where the clerk of the court has been so notified by the accused he shall inform the Director.
(9) The discontinuance of any proceedings by virtue of this section shall not prevent the institution of fresh proceedings in respect of the same offence.
(10) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under section 144 of the 1980 c. 43.Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.
Restriction of vexatious prosecutions. 1981 c. 54. 24.—(1) Section 42 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 (restriction of vexatious civil proceedings) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
    (a) in paragraphs (a) and (b) for the word “legal” there shall be substituted, in each case, “civil”;
    (b) at the end of paragraph (b) there shall be inserted—
       “or
       (c) instituted vexatious prosecutions (whether against the same person or different persons),”; and ​
    (c) for the words from “order” to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted—
       “make a civil proceedings order, a criminal proceedings order or an all proceedings order.”.
(3) After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—
    “(1A) In this section—
       “civil proceedings order” means an order that—
          (a) no civil proceedings shall without the leave of the High Court be instituted in any court by the person against whom the order is made;
          (b) any civil proceedings instituted by him in any court before the making of the order shall not be continued by him without the leave of the High Court; and
          (c) no application (other than one for leave under this section) shall be made by him, in any civil proceedings instituted in any court by any person, without the leave of the High Court;
       “criminal proceedings order” means an order that—
          (a) no information shall be laid before a justice of the peace by the person against whom the order is made without the leave of the High Court; and
          (b) no application for leave to prefer a bill of indictment shall be made by him without the leave of the High Court; and
       “all proceedings order” means an order which has the combined effect of the two other orders.”.
(4) In subsection (3), for the word “legal” there shall be substituted “civil”.
(5) After subsection (3) there shall be inserted—
    “(3A) Leave for the laying of an information or for an application for leave to prefer a bill of indictment by a person who is the subject of an order for the time being in force under subsection (1) shall not be given unless the High Court is satisfied that the institution of the prosecution is not an abuse of the criminal process and that there are reasonable grounds for the institution of the prosecution by the applicant.”
(6) In subsection (4), for the words from “for the institution” to the end there shall be substituted “required by virtue of this section”.
​(7) An order made under section 42 before the commencement of this section and in force at the time of that commencement shall, for the purposes of that section as amended by this section, be treated as a civil proceedings order.
Consents to prosecutions etc. 25.—(1) This section applies to any enactment which prohibits the institution or carrying on of proceedings for any offence except—
    (a) with the consent (however expressed) of a Law Officer of the Crown or the Director; or
    (b) where the proceedings are instituted or carried on by or on behalf of a Law Officer of the Crown or the Director;
and so applies whether or not there are other exceptions to the prohibition (and in particular whether or not the consent is an alternative to the consent of any other authority or person).
(2) An enactment to which this section applies—
    (a) shall not prevent the arrest without warrant, or the issue or execution of a warrant for the arrest, of a person for any offence, or the remand in custody or on bail of a person charged with any offence; and
    (b) shall be subject to any enactment concerning the apprehension or detention of children or young persons.
(3) In this section “enactment” includes any provision having effect under or by virtue of any Act; and this section applies to enactments whenever passed or made.
Consents to be admissible in evidence. 26. Any document purporting to be the consent of a Law Officer of the Crown, the Director or a Crown Prosecutor for, or to—
    (a) the institution of any criminal proceedings; or
    (b) the institution of criminal proceedings in any particular form;
and to be signed by a Law Officer of the Crown, the Director or, as the case may be, a Crown Prosecutor shall be admissible as prima facie evidence without further proof.
Care proceedings involving allegation of offences. 1969 c. 54. 27. In section 3(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (care proceedings alleging commission of offence by child or young person to be brought only by local authority or constable), after the word “constable” there shall be inserted the words “and, in the case of proceedings brought by a constable, the Director of Public Prosecutions has consented to the allegation being made”.
Repeal of s. 9 of Perjury Act 1911. 1911 c. 6. 28. Section 9 of the Perjury Act 1911 (which gives certain judicial authorities power to order the prosecution of persons for perjury) shall cease to have effect.
Part IV Supplemental
Regulations. 29.—(1) Any power to make regulations under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(2) Any such regulations may make different provisions with respect to different cases or classes of case.
Expenses. 30.—(1) There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament such sums as the Attorney General may, with the consent of the Treasury, direct in respect of the expenditure incurred by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the discharge of his functions under this Act.
(2) Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State or the Attorney General which is attributable to this Act shall be payable out of money provided by Parliament.
Short title, commencement and extent etc. 31.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.
(2) The following provisions of this Act come into force on its passing—
    (a) this Part (other than subsections (5) and (6) below);
    (b) sections 11 to 13; and
    (c) section 15, so far as it applies in relation to sections 11 to 13;
and the remaining provisions of this Act shall come into force on such day as the Lord Chancellor or Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.
(3) An order under subsection (2) above may—
    (a) appoint different days for different purposes and in relation to proceedings instituted in different areas; and
    (b) contain such transitional and supplementary provisions as appear to the Lord Chancellor or, as the case may be, Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient.
(4) Paragraphs (a) and (c) of section 3(2) of this Act shall not apply in relation to proceedings instituted before their commencement and paragraph (d) of section 3(2) shall not apply in relation to proceedings begun by a summons issued before its commencement.
(5) Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of making minor and consequential amendments in other enactments.
​(6) The enactments specified in Schedule 2 to this Act (which include certain provisions which are already spent) are hereby repealed to the extent set out in the third column of that Schedule.
(7) This Act does not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1 Minor and Consequential Amendments
Part I Amendments Relating to Part I
The Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)
1.—(1) Section 12 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (pleading guilty by post etc.) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (4) (notification of accused’s desire to plead guilty without appearing before court to be read out) the words “by the clerk of the court” shall be added at the end.
(3) At the end there shall be added the following subsection—
    “(9) Where the clerk of the court has received such a notification as is mentioned in subsection (2) above but the accused nevertheless appears before the court at the time and place appointed for the trial or adjourned trial the court may, if the accused consents, proceed under this section as if he were absent.”.
2. In section 19 of that Act (in cases triable either way, court to begin by considering which mode of trial appears more suitable) the following subsection shall be added at the end—
    “(5) The power of the Director of Public Prosecutions under subsection (4) above to apply for an offence to be tried on indictment shall not be exercised except with the consent of the Attorney General.”
3. In section 25 of that Act (power to change from summary trial to committal proceedings and vice versa), in subsection (3) before the word “proceed” there shall be inserted “subject to subsection (3A) below” and after subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
    “(3A) Where the prosecution is being carried on by the Attorney General or the Solicitor General, the court shall not exercise the power conferred by subsection (3) above without his consent and, where the prosecution is being carried on by the Director of Public Prosecutions, shall not exercise that power if the Attorney General directs that it should not be exercised.”
The Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49)
4. In paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (meaning of "discontinuance" in relation to criminal proceedings), the following sub-paragraph shall be inserted after subparagraph (a)— ​
    “(aa) in England and Wales, if they are discontinued by virtue of section 23 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985;”.
5. After paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 to that Act there shall be inserted the following paragraph—
    “9A. Where proceedings in England and Wales have been discontinued by virtue of section 23 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, but notice is given by the accused under subsection (7) of that section to the effect that he wants the proceedings to continue, they become active again with the giving of that notice.”
Part II Amendments Relating to Part II
The Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80)
6. In section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (which provides that the costs of a medical practitioner reporting to a court are to be recoverable as witness costs), in subsection (2)—
    (a) the words from “and”, where it first appears, to “funds”. and the words from “and”, where it next appears, to the end of the subsection, shall be omitted; and
    (b) for the words “they apply" there shall be substituted “it applies”.
The Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31)
7.—(1) Schedule 9 to the Administration of Justice Act 1970 shall be amended as follows.
(2) After paragraph 1 there shall be inserted—
    “1A. Where a magistrates' court makes an order as to costs to be paid by the accused in exercise of any power in that behalf conferred by regulations made under section 19(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.”
(3) In paragraph 4, for the words “orders him to pay the whole or part of the costs incurred in or about the prosecution and conviction” there shall be substituted “makes an order as to costs to be paid by him”.
(4) After paragraph 4 there shall be inserted—
    “4A. Where the Crown Court makes an order as to costs to be paid by the accused in exercise of any power in that behalf conferred by regulations made under section 19(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.”
(5) For paragraphs 6 and 7 there shall be substituted the following—
    “6. Where the criminal division of the Court of Appeal makes an order as to costs to be paid by—
       (a) an appellant;
       (b) an applicant for leave to appeal to that court; or ​
       (c) in the case of an application for leave to appeal to the House of Lords, an applicant who was the appellant before the criminal division.”.
(6) In paragraph 9, for “section 18 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973” there shall be substituted “regulations made under section 19(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985”.
(7) For paragraph 13 there shall be substituted the following—
    “13. Where a magistrates’ court makes an order as to costs to be paid by the prosecutor in exercise of any power in that behalf conferred by regulations made under section 19(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.”
(8) Paragraph 15 shall be omitted.
(9) After paragraph 16 there shall be inserted—
    “Costs awarded by Court of Appeal (criminal division)
    16A. Where the criminal division of the Court of Appeal makes an order as to costs to be paid by the respondent or. in the case of an application for leave to appeal to the House of Lords, an applicant who was the respondent before the criminal division, and does so in exercise of any power in that behalf conferred by regulations made under section 19(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.”
The Criminal Justice Act 1972 (c. 71)
8. In section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972 (reference to Court of Appeal of point of law following acquittal on indictment) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (5)—
    “(5A) Section 20(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (regulations as to scales and rates of payment of costs payable out of central funds) shall apply in relation to this section as it applies in relation to Part II of that Act.”
The Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54)
9. In section 52(3) of the Supreme Court Act 1981 (ambit of Crown Court rules in relation to awards of costs) for the words “Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973” there shall be substituted “Part II of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985” and for the words from “is” to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted “in relation to costs of proceedings in the Crown Court, is contained in section 18 of that Act or in regulations made under section 19 of that Act (awards of party and party costs in criminal proceedings)”.
10. In section 52(4) of that Act, for the words “Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973” there shall be substituted “Part II of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985”.
Part III Miscellaneous
The Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54)
11. In section 77 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 (Crown Court rules to prescribe minimum and maximum period which may elapse between committal and beginning of trial), for the words “and maximum periods”, in subsection (3), there shall be substituted “period”.
SCHEDULE 2 Repeals
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