Criminal Practice Directions: Amendment No. 4 effective from 3 April 2017
Amendments to the Criminal Practice Directions March 2017: Summary of Key Changes
This is the fourth amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2015 [2016] EWCA Crim 1714[1]. It is handed down by the Lord Chief Justice on 28th March 2017 and comes into force on 3rd April 2017.
This update provides amendments to existing Criminal Practice Directions and supplements the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2017, S.I. 2017/144 that come into force on 3rd April 2017.
CPD V Evidence 19B: STATEMENTS OF UNDERSTANDING AND DECLARATIONS OF TRUTH IN EXPERT REPORTS
- This amendment makes it clear that the code of practice or conduct to be followed by experts when signing a declaration on a report made available for the court, should be the code of practice or conduct relevant to that individual expert.
CPD XI Other proceedings EXTRADITION 50A-50F
- This update aligns the practice direction with the Rules that have been amended to take account of the High Court’s comments made in Puceviciene v Lithuanian Judicial Authority and other appeals [2016] EWHC 1862 (Admin). The practice direction gives more guidance on the use of case management directions which should assist the court in ensuring the case proceeds as efficiently as possible. Additional guidance is provided in relation to Consent Orders.
CPD XIII Listing E: ALLOCATION OF BUSINESS WITHIN THE CROWN COURT
- This minor amendment will allow retired Circuit Judges to sit on Class 1 cases providing that the Presiding Judge has released the case for trial by such a judge.
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[1] [2015] EWCA 1567. Amendment Number 1 [2016] EWCA 97 was handed down by the Lord Chief Justice on 23rd March, 2016 and came into force on the 4th April, 2016. Amendment Number 2 [2016] EWCA 1714 was handed down by the Lord Chief on 16th November, 2016 and came into force on 16th November, 2016. Amendment Number 3 [2017] EWCA 30 was handed down by the Lord Chief Justice and came into force on the 31st January 2017.
Lord Chief Justice
28 March 2017