{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-254",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003/section-254.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/44",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-2003",
  "path": "section/254",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "254",
  "heading": "Recall of prisoners while on licence",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State may, in the case of any prisoner who has been released on licence under this Chapter, revoke his licence and recall him to prison.\n(2) A person recalled to prison under subsection (1)—\n(a) may make representations in writing with respect to his recall, and\n(b) on his return to prison, must be informed of the reasons for his recall and of his right to make representations.\n(2A) The Secretary of State, after considering any representations under subsection (2)(a) or any other matters, may cancel a revocation under this section.\n(2B) The Secretary of State may cancel a revocation under subsection (2A) only if satisfied that the person recalled has complied with all the conditions specified in the licence.\n(2C) Where the revocation of a person's licence is cancelled under subsection (2A), the person is to be treated as if the recall under subsection (1) had not happened.\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(6) On the revocation of the licence of any person under this section, he shall be liable to be detained in pursuance of his sentence and, if at large, is to be treated as being unlawfully at large.\n(6A) The Secretary of State may by order amend this Chapter so as to make provision for and about circumstances or cases in which the Secretary of State may, or may not, revoke a person’s licence and recall the person to prison under subsection (1).\n(6B) An order under subsection (6A) may confer a function (including the exercise of a discretion) on the Secretary of State or another person, or description of person, specified in the order.\n(7) Nothing in this section applies in relation to a person recalled under section 255.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 254(2A)-(2C) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), ss. 113(1), 151(1) (with Sch. 15); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 254(3)-(5) repealed (14.7.2008 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 29(1)(a), 149, 153, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 paras. 15, 50(2)(c) (subject to Sch. 2 para. 3); S.I. 2009/2606, art. 3(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 254(6A)(6B) inserted (22.1.2026 for enabling the exercise of power to make regulations) by Sentencing Act 2026 (c. 2), ss. 29(2), 49(3)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 254(7) substituted (14.7.2008 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009 ) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 29(1)(b), 153; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 15 (subject to Sch. 2 para. 3); S.I. 2009/2606 {art. 3(c)}"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 254 wholly in force at 4.4.2005; s. 254 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 336(3); s. 254 in force for certain purposes at 26.1.2004 by S.I. 2003/3282, art. 2, Sch.; s. 254 in force in so far as not already in force at 4.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 19 (subject to art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (as amended by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/section/254",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:17:40.404644+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}