Announcements from the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-06)

Latest news about the Criminal Procedure Rules, the Criminal Practice Directions and the Rule Committee.

2025

October 2025

Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 now in force

The new, consolidated, Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 came into force on Monday 6 October 2025. The Rules page on this website (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now contains the new rules.

July 2025

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made a new consolidation of the Criminal Procedure Rules. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/contents) replace the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and the amendments made to those rules since then. The guide beneath describes them. When the new rules come into force, on Monday 6 October 2025, they will replace the rules on the page at Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6880dc1b901d5f8d47120521/criminal-procedure-rules-2025.pdf) (PDF, 213 KB, 5 pages)

April 2025

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025 came into force on Monday 7 April 2025. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

February 2025

Index to the Criminal Procedure Rules and Criminal Practice Directions

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has published an index to the Criminal Procedure Rules and Criminal Practice Directions. The index is published on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020#index-to-the-criminal-procedure-rules-and-criminal-practice-directions).

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/60/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 7 April 2025, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67a1e13d7da1f1ac64e5fe1d/Guide_to_the_Criminal_Procedure__Amendment__Rules_2025.pdf) (PDF, 143 KB, 4 pages)

2024

October 2024

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointments

District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Michael Snow and Alison Pople KC both have retired from the Committee. We are indebted to them for their service. The Lady Chief Justice has appointed District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) Michael Oliver as the District Judge member of the Committee and the Lord Chancellor has appointed Jacob Hallam KC as a barrister member. The list of Committee members (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee/about#membership) has been brought up to date to include these appointments.

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

Some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024 came into force on Monday 7 October 2024. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

Other rule changes, the ones about (i) allocating and sending cases for trial in the Crown Court by an online written procedure, (ii) rights of appeal about domestic abuse protection orders, and (iii) referring to the Court of Appeal cases on the interpretation of case law affected by European Union law, will come into force only when the relevant new statutory provisions come into force.

August 2024

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/842/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 7 October 2024, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66ba0fffab418ab055593622/criminal-procedure-amendment-no-2-rules-2024-guide.pdf) (PDF, 104 KB, 5 pages)

April 2024

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 came into force on Monday 1 April 2024. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

February 2024

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/62/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 1 April 2024, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c9e7d5cc433b0011a90bc0/criminal-procedure-amendment-rules-2024-guide.pdf) (PDF, 134 KB, 5 pages)

2023

October 2023

Changes to the Criminal Practice Directions

The Lord Chief Justice has issued amendments to the Criminal Practice Directions 2023. The amended directions came into force on Monday 2 October 2023. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) page now includes those amended directions. For more information, see the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/first-amendment-to-the-criminal-practice-direction-2023-october-2023/) website.

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 came into force on Monday 2 October 2023. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) page now includes those changes.

September 2023

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment

Louise Bryant JP has retired from the Committee. We are indebted to her for her service. The Lord Chief Justice has appointed David Barrand JP as the magistrate member. The Committee members page (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee/about#membership) has been brought up to date to include this appointment.

July 2023

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/786/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 2 October 2023, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64c1411390b54500143e83e5/guide-to-the-criminal-procedure-amendment-no-2-rules-2023.pdf) (PDF, 173 KB, 6 pages)

June 2023

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment

Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave has retired from the Committee. We are indebted to him for his service. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Chief Constable Rob Nixon as the National Police Chiefs’ Council representative member. The Committee members page (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee/about#membership) has been brought up to date to include this appointment.

May 2023

Criminal Practice Directions 2023

The Lord Chief Justice has issued new Criminal Practice Directions 2023. The new directions came into force on Monday 29 May 2023. The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) page now includes those new directions. For more information, see the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/message-from-lord-burnett-lord-chief-justice-of-england-and-wales-new-criminal-practice-directions-2023/) website.

April 2023

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023 came into force on Monday 3 April 2023. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

March 2023

Vacancy for a Criminal Procedure Rule Committee member

The Lord Chief Justice wishes to appoint a magistrate member of the Rule Committee, on the expiry of the present member’s term. The appointment is open only to people who are already magistrates. The closing date for applications is noon on Tuesday 11 April 2023. There is a description of the appointment, with instructions about how to apply, in the notice beneath.

Notice of CrimPRC magistrate vacancy March 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6411988fe90e0776951bd989/crim-prc-magistrate-vacancy-march-2023-notice.pdf) (PDF, 240 KB, 8 pages)

Supplementary information form March 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/641198b6d3bf7f79e0106ea0/magistrate-vacancy-supplementary-information-form-march-2023.docx) (MS Word Document, 30.2 KB)

February 2023

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/44/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 3 April 2023, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63ea09ded3bf7f05c4a88702/criminal-procedure-amendment-rules-2023-guide.pdf) (PDF, 132 KB, 4 pages)

2022

October 2022

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The last group of changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2022 came into force on Monday 3 October 2022. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

September 2022

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointments

Lord Justice Fulford, HH Judge Edmunds QC and Sue Gadd all have retired from the Committee. We are indebted to them for their service. The Lord Chief Justice has appointed Lord Justice Holroyde as a Court of Appeal judge member and deputy chairman of the Committee, and HH Judge Norton as a Circuit judge member. The Committee members (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee/about#membership) page has been brought up to date to include these appointments.

August 2022

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The first group of changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2022 came into force on Monday 15 August 2022. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

July 2022

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2022

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/815/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 15 August and on Monday 3 October 2022, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2022 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62d666dce90e071e7defb9d2/criminal-procedure-amendment-no-2_-rules-2022-guide.pdf) (PDF, 150 KB, 7 pages)

April 2022

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 came into force on Monday 4 April 2022. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) page now includes those changes.

Amendments to Criminal Practice Directions

The Lord Chief Justice has made some amendments to Criminal Practice Directions V: Evidence. They give new guidance on pre-trial video recording of cross-examination and re-examination where that is directed under section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. For more information, see the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (https://www.judiciary.uk/publications/amendments-to-the-criminal-practice-directions-march-2022-summary-of-key-changes/) website. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) page now includes those Practice Directions.

February 2022

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/45/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 4 April 2022, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/620d063b8fa8f54911e2215d/criminal-procedure-amendment-rules-2022-guide.pdf) (PDF, 102 KB, 4 pages)

2021

October 2021

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 came into force on Monday 4 October 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

September 2021

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Jodie Blackstock have retired from the Committee. We are indebted to them for their service. The Lord Chief Justice has appointed Mrs Justice Foster DBE as a High Court judge member. The Committee members (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee/about#membership) page has been brought up to date to include this appointment.

July 2021

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules, below, describes those changes. The new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/849/contents/made) are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 4 October 2021, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60f7e6c08fa8f50c6f050cc2/criminal-procedure-amendment-2-rules-2021-guide.pdf) (PDF, 136 KB, 4 pages)

June 2021

New magistrates’ court Preparation for Effective Trial form

The Lord Chief Justice has authorised for use with the Criminal Procedure Rules a revised Preparation for Effective Trial form for use in magistrates’ courts and a new youth court version of the PET form. The forms are for use on and after Monday 7 June 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules: Forms (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparation-for-trial-in-a-magistrates-court) page now includes those new forms.

There is new guidance, too, for using the forms which is meant for defendants who are not represented by lawyers.

May 2021

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment

HH Judge Picton and David Kenyon have retired from the Committee. We are indebted to them for their service. The Lord Chief Justice has appointed HH Judge Field QC as a Circuit judge member. The Committee members page (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee/about#membership) has been brought up to date to include this appointment.

April 2021

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The last group of changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 came into force on Monday 5 April 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) page now includes those changes.

February 2021

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The first group of changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 came into force on Monday 8 February 2021. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

January 2021

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/40/contents/made), below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on Monday 8 February and on Monday 5 April 2021, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6006e1eed3bf7f0bf7da03e0/criminal-procedure-amendment-rules-2021.pdf) (PDF, 136 KB, 4 pages)

2020

November 2020

Sentencing Act 2020 changes

On 1 December 2020 the Sentencing Act 2020 replaces most other sentencing legislation. The Act (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/contents) is published at legislation.gov.uk.

Notes to the Criminal Procedure Rules, and some rules, include references to sentencing legislation replaced by the Act. The table below lists the references in Parts 9, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 39 of the Criminal Procedure Rules where new provisions apply. When the Rules are next amended those references will be brought up to date.

References to sentencing legislation in the Criminal Procedure Rules (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fbf8861e90e077ee1daf4d1/references-sentencing-legislation-cprc.pdf) (PDF, 143 KB, 8 pages)

Amendments to Criminal Practice Directions

The Lord Chief Justice has made some amendments to the Criminal Practice Directions. The amendments provide that a Taser carried by a police officer attending court requires no special judicial authority if it is part of that officer’s standard personal protection equipment. They list as a criterion for convening an additional pre-trial case management hearing in the Crown Court the existence of a substantial volume of unused prosecution material, or complex problems arising in connection with such material. They clarify references to the adults expected to attend court with young defendants. They clarify references to the occasions on which special measures directions are given. For more information, see the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website (https://www.judiciary.uk/announcements/message-from-lord-burnett-lord-chief-justice-of-england-and-wales-11th-amendment-to-criminal-practice-directions/).

These amendments come into force on 16 November 2020. When they come into force they will appear on the Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020).

October 2020

Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 now in force

The new, consolidated, Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 came into force on Monday 5 October 2020. The Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions 2020 page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now contains the new rules.

July 2020

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made a new consolidation of the Criminal Procedure Rules. The 2020 Rules replace the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 and the amendments made to those rules since then. The new rules come into force on Monday 5 October 2020.

The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force they will appear on this website, too. The guide to the new rules, below, describes what they contain.

Guide to the Criminal Procedures Rules 2020 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f801f408fa8f51e75d3a46a/criminal-procedure-rules-guide-2020.pdf) (PDF, 261 KB, 7 pages)

May 2020

Amendments to Criminal Practice Directions

The Lord Chief Justice has made some practice direction amendments that came into force on Wednesday 13 May 2020. The Criminal Procedure Rules page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

The amendments give magistrates guidance on how to deal with a defendant who fails to give name, date of birth or nationality when required to do so. They supplement rules about alerting a court to the existence of sensitive information which is not required to be disclosed to the defendant. They give courts guidance on dealing with defendants brought to court in police custody and on dealing with a defendant who attends court late, in breach of bail. They give magistrates and Crown Court judges guidance on the Crown Court centres at which appeals from magistrates’ courts should be heard and on the courts at which proceedings for breach of community orders should be dealt with. For more information, see the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website (https://www.judiciary.uk/announcements/lord-chief-justice-issues-10th-amendment-to-the-criminal-practice-directions-2015/).

April 2020

Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some temporary changes to Parts 2, 3, 5, 14, 18, 24, 25, 28, 47 and 50 of the Criminal Procedure Rules because of modifications to legislation made by the Coronavirus Act 2020. The main changes are to the rules about live link directions and to other references to live links.

The new rules are published on the Legislation website. They come into force on Tuesday 14 April 2020. They remain in force only until relevant sections of the Coronavirus Act 2020 expire.

The Criminal Procedure Rules page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes the temporarily amended versions of those Parts of the Rules as well as the versions that will apply again when the temporary amendments expire.

Criminal Procedure Rule changes now in force

The changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2020 came into force on Monday 6 April 2020. The Criminal Procedure Rules page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-and-practice-directions-2020) now includes those changes.

Visit the National Archive online to view:
- previous versions of the criminal procedure rules (https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/*/https:/www.gov.uk/government/organisations/criminal-procedure-rule-committee)
- earlier updates and what’s new information (https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/*/https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/criminal)