Section 31 Duration and conditions of licences.C1

England and Wales

(1)

Where a life prisoner F1, other than a prisoner to whom section 31A below applies, is released on licence, the licence shall, unless previously revoked under section 32 F2... below, remain in force until his death.

F3(1A)

Where a prisoner to whom section 31A below applies is released on licence, the licence shall remain in force until his death unless—

(a)

it is previously revoked under section 32(1) or (2) below

(b)

it ceases to have effect in accordance with an order made by the Secretary of State under section 31A below; or

(2)

A life prisoner subject to a licence shall comply with such conditions F4... as may for the time being be specified in the licence; and the Secretary of State may make rules for regulating the supervision of any description of such persons.

F5(2A)

The conditions so specified shall include on the prisoner’s release conditions as to his supervision by—

(a)

F6an officer of a local probation board appointed for or assigned to the F7local justice area within which the prisoner resides for the time being F8or (as the case may be) an officer of a provider of probation services acting in the local justice area within which the prisoner resides for the time being;

(b)

where the prisoner is under the age of 22, a social worker of the F9... local authority within whose area the prisoner resides for the time being; or

(c)

where the prisoner is under the age of 18, a member of a youth offending team established by that local authority under section 39 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

F10(3)

The Secretary of State must not include a condition in a life prisoner's licence on release, insert a condition in such a licence or vary or cancel a condition of such a licence except—

(a)

in accordance with recommendations of the Parole Board,

(F11aa)

in accordance with subsection (3A),

(F12ab)

in accordance with subsection (3B), or

(b)

where required to do so by an order under section 62A of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (compulsory electronic monitoring conditions).

F13(3A)

The Secretary of State may include a condition in a life prisoner's licence on release under section 32ZZA.

F14(3B)

Where the High Court gives a direction under section 32ZAC(2) as to the conditions to be included in a life prisoner’s licence on release, the Secretary of State—

(a)

must include the conditions in the prisoner’s licence on release;

(b)

may subsequently insert a condition in such a licence or vary or cancel a condition of such a licence.

F15(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)

The power to make rules under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

C2(6)

In relation to a life prisoner who is liable to removal from the United Kingdom (within the meaning given by F16section 259 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003), subsection (2) above shall have effect as if F17subsection (2A) above were omitted.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 31(1) inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 18 para. 1(2); S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 40 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))
F2: Words in s. 31(1) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(2)(b)
F3: S. 31(1A) inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 18 para. 1(3); S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 40 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))
F4: Words in s. 31(2) repealed (30.9.1998 in the areas specified in S.I. 1998/2327, Sch. 1 and otherwise 1.4.2000) by 1998 c. 37, ss. 119, 120(2), Sch. 8 para. 131(1), Sch. 10; S.I. 1998/2327, art. 3(1)(b)(c), Sch. 1; S.I. 2000/924, art. 3
F5: S. 31(2A) inserted (30.9.1998 in the areas specified in S.I. 1998/2327, Sch. 1 and otherwise 1.4.2000) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 131(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 3(1)(b), Sch. 1; S.I. 2000/924, art. 3
F6: Words in s. 31(2A)(a) substituted (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 74, Sch. 7 Pt. I para. 4(1)(a)(2); S.I. 2001/919, art. 2(f)(i)
F7: Words in s. 31(2A)(a) substituted (1.4.2005) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/886), art. 1, Sch. para. 53
F8: Words in s. 31(2A)(a) inserted (1.4.2008) by The Offender Management Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/912), Sch. 1 para. 12(2)
F9: Words in s. 31(2A)(b) repealed (1.4.2005 for E., 1.4.2006 for W.) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), Sch. 5 Pt. 4; S.I. 2005/394, art. 2(2)(g); S.I. 2006/885, art. 2(2)
F10: S. 31(3) substituted (13.4.2015) by Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2), s. 95(1), Sch. 2 para. 1 (with s. 7(5)); S.I. 2015/778, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 73
F11: S. 31(3)(aa) inserted (1.11.2024) by Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21), ss. 66(2)(a), 81(2); S.I. 2024/966, reg. 3(1)(a)
F12: S. 31(3)(ab) inserted (31.12.2025) by Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21), ss. 63(2), 81(2); S.I. 2025/1325, reg. 2(f)
F13: S. 31(3A) inserted (1.11.2024) by Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21), ss. 66(2)(b), 81(2); S.I. 2024/966, reg. 3(1)(a)
F14: S. 31(3B) inserted (31.12.2025) by Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21), ss. 63(3), 81(2); S.I. 2025/1325, reg. 2(f)
F15: S. 31(4) repealed (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(2), Sch. 32 para. 83(3), Sch. 37 Pt. 8
F16: Words in s. 31(6) substituted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 32 para. 83(4); S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 42(32) (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))
F17: Words in s. 31(6) substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 131(3); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(2)(mm).

Modifications

C1

S. 31: exercise of functions restricted in or as regards Scotland (30.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1748, art. 8(2), Sch. 4 Pt. I para. 1

C2

S. 31(6) modified (1.1.1998) by S.I. 1997/2200, art. 5(3)(a)

S. 31(6) modified (19.9.1998) by S.I. 1998/2327, art. 5(1)(b).

Notes on Part II

Modifications

C1: Pt. II applied in part (with modifications) (1.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1776, art. 2, Sch. 1 paras. 2-4; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)

Notes on Chapter II

Modifications

C1: Pt. II Ch. II excluded (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 42, Sch. 7 para. 3(1) (with s. 78); S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2