Subjects:

Blackstone Legislation Guides, Criminal Law, Criminal Law

Contents:

1. The Background to the Criminal Procedure Rules: the Overriding Objective and Case Management by His Honour Judge Denyer QC

2. The Over-riding Objective (Part 1) and Understanding of the Rules (Part 2)

3. Case Management (Part 3)

4. Service, Forms and Court Records (Parts 4,5 and 6)

5. Preliminary Proceedings in the Magistrates' Courts (Parts 7 to 9)

6. Preliminary Proceedings in the Crown Court (Parts 10 to 15)

7. Reporting Restrictions and Extradition (Parts 16 and 17)

8. Custody and Bail (Parts 18 to 20)

9. Disclosure (Parts 21 to 26)

10. Witnesses (Parts 27 to 30 and Parts 32 and 33)

11. Restriction on Cross-Examination (Part 31)

12. Hearsay (Part 34)

13. Character (Part 35)

14. Trials - Summary and Young People

15. Trial on Indictment (Part 39 to 41)

16. Sentences (Parts 42 to 55)

17. Confiscation (Parts 56 to 62)

18. Appeals (Parts 63 to 75)

19. Costs (Parts 76 to 78)

APPENDIX A - THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE RULES 2005

APPENDIX B - THE CONSOLIDATED PRACTICE DIRECTION

APPENDIX C - CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF HEAVY FRAUD AND OTHER COMPLEX CRIMINAL CASES (A PROTOCOL ISSUED BY THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND AND WALES)

The new Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 govern all aspects of criminal procedure in all criminal courts. They consolidate all existing procedural rules with new provisions aimed at increasing efficiency and improving case management. The Rules are designed to bring about a cultural change and all those involved in the criminal justice system are affected by the new regime.

The author team is comprised of experts in the field with inside knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Rules - Duncan Atkinson and Tim Moloney have both been members of the Criminal Bar Association Working Party on the Criminal Procedure Rules since its inception in 2004, and HHJ Roderick Denyer is a member of the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee.

This Guide provides a full, clear analysis of the new Rules, and places them in the context of recent changes to the law, notably the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Its logical style, following the structure of the Rules, and including checklists of time limits and key tasks to be performed, is an essential purchase for criminal practitioners, magistrates, and judges needing to get up to speed with the new procedural regime.