# Crime and Policing Act 2026, Section 201: Anonymity for authorised firearms officers appealing convictions for qualifying offences

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) This section applies where a person (“D”) is convicted of a qualifying offence in proceedings in a court in England and Wales, or proceedings (anywhere) before a service court.
(2) The court by or before which D is convicted may, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of justice to do so—
(a) cause any or all of the information mentioned in section 200(3)(a)(i) to (iii) to be withheld from the public in proceedings before the court;
(b) give a reporting direction in respect of D (see section 202);
(c) make an anonymity order in respect of D (see section 203).
(3) Any reporting direction given, or anonymity order made, under subsection (2) ceases to have effect at the end of the appeal period unless, before the end of that period, D brings an appeal against the conviction.
(4) Where, before the end of the appeal period, D brings an appeal against the conviction, the court dealing with the appeal may, if satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of justice to do so—
(a) cause any or all of the information mentioned in section 200(3)(a)(i) to (iii) to be withheld from the public in proceedings before the court;
(b) give a reporting direction in respect of D;
(c) make an anonymity order in respect of D.
(5) The court dealing with the appeal must at the earliest opportunity determine the issue of whether to exercise any or all of the powers under subsection (4).
(6) Any reporting direction given, or anonymity order made, under subsection (2) ceases to have effect upon the making of the determination mentioned in subsection (5) (whether or not the court dealing with the appeal gives a direction or makes an order).
(7) Any reporting direction given, or anonymity order made, under subsection (4) ceases to have effect if the appeal against conviction is abandoned or dismissed.
(8) In this section—
“appeal period” in relation to a person convicted of a qualifying offence, means the period allowed for bringing an appeal against that conviction, disregarding the possibility of an appeal out of time with permission;
“qualifying offence” has the meaning given by section 200(2).
(9) This section does not apply where the proceedings in which D was convicted were begun before the coming into force of section 200.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/section/201 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026/section-201
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.