14th amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2015 – August 2022

CriminalPractice Direction

AMENDMENTS TO THE CRIMINAL PRACTICE DIRECTIONS August 2022

SUMMARY OF KEY CHANGES

This is the fourteenth amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2015 (PDF) [1]. It was issued by the Lord Chief Justice and comes into force today (19th August 2022).

This update provides amendments to existing Criminal Practice Directions and supplements the Criminal Procedure Rules. The Table of Content is amended accordingly.

  1. CPD V Evidence 18E: USE OF S.28 YOUTH JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT 1999; PRE-RECORDING OF CROSS-EXAMINATION AND RE-EXAMINATION FOR WITNESSES CAPTURED BY S.16 YJCEA 1999.

These amendments make two minor changes to section 18E of the Criminal Practice Directions 2015.

The requirement that the CPS should give prior approval before the police discuss with the witness, parent or carer the special measures that are available is removed. Instead, as was the case before March 2022, the police and Crown Prosecution Service should discuss, with the witness or with the witness’ parent or carer, special measures available and the witness’ needs, such that the most appropriate package of special measures can be identified.

The second amendment is to specify that the Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH) must be conducted by a salaried judge or other judge of suitable experience authorised for the purpose by the Resident Judge.


This is the fourteenth amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2015.1
In this amendment:

  1. In paragraph 18E.5:
    After “by the police.” delete ““If it will not cause undesirable delay, a representative of the
    Crown Prosecution Service should give prior approval before the police discuss with the
    witness or with the witness’ parent or carer the special measures that are available and the
    witness’ needs, such that the most appropriate package of special measures can be
    identified.” and replace with: “The police and Crown Prosecution Service should discuss,
    with the witness or with the witness’ parent or carer, special measures available and the
    witness’ needs, such that the most appropriate package of special measures can be
    identified.”
  2. In paragraph 18E.15:
    After “The Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH) must be conducted by a salaried
    judge” add in “or other judge of suitable experience authorised for the purpose by the
    Resident Judge”