Fourth Amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2023 – November 2025
Court of Appeal Criminal DivisionCriminalCrown CourtLady Chief JusticeMagistrates' courtPractice Direction
This is the fourth amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2023[1]. It is issued by the Lady Chief Justice and comes into force on 18 November 2025.
In this amendment:
(1) In chapter 6 insert the following:
6.8 Animals to support vulnerable people
6.8.1 No-one may be accompanied in the courtroom, or while taking part in a trial from elsewhere, by an animal other than an assistance dog (for example, a guide dog) unless the court gives permission, on an application that gives the information needed by the court.
6.8.2 If the court gives permission it may be subject to preparations and arrangements directed by the court.
(2) In paragraph 7.1.3(d):
i. After the words “relying on an examination, technique, method or process which was not properly carried out or applied”, omit the word “or”.
ii. After the words “was not appropriate for use in the particular case”, insert the words “or in respect of which material advice or a warning has been issued by a professional, regulatory or registration body or authority, including the Forensic Science Regulator”.
(3) In paragraph 7.1.4(e), after the words “any adverse finding, disciplinary proceedings or other criticism by a professional, regulatory or registration body or authority, including the Forensic Science Regulator,” insert the words “whether or not that finding, proceeding or criticism since has been resolved (for example, by a completion certificate issued by the Forensic Science Regulator)”.
(4) In paragraph 7.1.4, insert:
m. the issue of any material advice or warning by a professional, regulatory or registration body or authority, including the Forensic Science Regulator.
(5) In paragraph 7.2.1, omit the current text at 13 and insert the following:
13. A I confirm that I have complied with the disclosure obligations listed in paragraph 7.1.4 of the Criminal Practice Directions.
B [For experts to whose reports the code published under section 2 of the Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 does not apply.]
I confirm that I have complied with the code of practice or conduct for experts of my discipline, namely [identify the code], in all respects save as identified in [schedule][annexe][x] to this report. That [schedule][annexe] identifies any respect in which I have not complied with that code, explains why I have not done so, and either:
(a) explains why I do not think that that non-compliance creates any material risk to the reliability of my opinion, or
(b) gives details of the action taken to mitigate any such risk.
[Reports to which the code published under section 2 of the Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021 applies will include a compliance declaration in the terms required by that code.]
New paragraphs 6.8.1 and 6.8.2 provide that no one may be accompanied in the courtroom or when attending a trial from elsewhere by an animal, other than an assistance dog, without the court’s permission following an application to the court.
The amendments to Chapter 7:
(a) require the disclosure in an expert report of any authoritative advice or warning relevant to the content of the report;
(b) require the disclosure in an expert report of any past adverse finding or disciplinary proceeding, even if since resolved; and
(c) ensure the compatibility of the declarations of compliance required by (i) the Criminal Practice Directions, and (ii) the Forensic Science Regulator’s statutory code of practice.
This follows a short consultation by the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee with expert witnesses subject to the Regulator’s code as well as to the Criminal Practice Directions.
Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill
Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales
[1] The Criminal Practice Directions 2023 were issued on 19th April 2023 and came into force on 29th May 2023. The first amendment came into force on 2nd October 2023. The second amendment came into force on 7th November 2023.The third amendment came into force on 22nd July 2024.