OpenLegislation

Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 in Northern Ireland

1996 c. 25 · Enacted 4 July 1996 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 17 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 6 October 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 5(1A)insertedJustice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 Sch. 2 para. 8
s. 13(1)(ba)(b)substituted for s. 13(1)(b) by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 8(2) (as inserted)Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(f)(iii)
s. 5(1A)words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 8(1)Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(f)(ii)
s. 5(1A)amendment to earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 8Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(f)(i)
s. 62repealedThe Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 Sch. 3
Sch. 4 para. 25repealedThe Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 Sch. 3
Sch. 4 para. 4(f) and wordaddedThe Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 1 para. 16
Sch. 4 para. 19repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
Sch. 4 para. 11repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
s. 1(6)addedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(4)
s. 3(3)-(5)excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(2)
s. 17excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(3)
s. 18excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(3)
s. 20(1)excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(2)
s. 6BinsertedCriminal Justice Act 2003 s. 33(3)
s. 6DinsertedCriminal Justice Act 2003 s. 35
Sch. 4 para. 16repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 12

An Act to make provision about criminal procedure and criminal investigations.

[4th July 1996]

E1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Extent

E1

Act extends to Northern Ireland but the operation of Sch. 4 is limited by application as mentioned in s.79(4)

Contents

  1. Part I: Disclosure
  2. Introduction
  3. 1Application of this Part.
  4. 2General interpretation.
  5. The main provisions
  6. 3Initial duty of prosecutor to disclose.
  7. 4Initial duty to disclose: further provisions.
  8. 5Compulsory disclosure by accused.
  9. 6Voluntary disclosure by accused.
  10. 6AContents of defence statement
  11. 6BUpdated disclosure by accused Not yet in force
  12. 6CNotification of intention to call defence witnesses
  13. 6DNotification of names of experts instructed by accused Not yet in force
  14. 6EDisclosure by accused: further provisions
  15. 7Secondary disclosure by prosecutor. Repealed
  16. 7AContinuing duty of prosecutor to disclose
  17. 8Application by accused for disclosure.
  18. 9Continuing duty of prosecutor to disclose. Repealed
  19. 10Prosecutor’s failure to observe time limits.
  20. 11Faults in disclosure by accused.
  21. Time limits
  22. 12Time limits.
  23. 13Time limits: transitional.
  24. Public interest
  25. 14Public interest: review for summary trials.
  26. 15Public interest: review in other cases.
  27. 16Applications: opportunity to be heard.
  28. Confidentiality
  29. 17Confidentiality of disclosed information.
  30. 18Confidentiality: contravention.
  31. Other provisions
  32. 19Rules of court.
  33. 20Other statutory rules as to disclosure.
  34. 21Common law rules as to disclosure.
  35. 21ACode of practice for police interviews of witnesses notified by accused
  36. Part II: Criminal Investigations
  37. 22Introduction.
  38. 23Code of practice.
  39. 24Examples of disclosure provisions.
  40. 25Operation and revision of code.
  41. 26Effect of code.
  42. 27Common law rules as to criminal investigations.
  43. 30Start of trial and arraignment.
  44. 32Orders before preparatory hearing.
  45. Reporting restrictions
  46. Part IV: Rulings
  47. 39Meaning of pre-trial hearing.
  48. 40Power to make rulings.
  49. 41Restrictions on reporting.
  50. 42Offences in connection with reporting.
  51. 43Application of this Part.
  52. Part V: Committal, Transfer, Etc.
  53. 45Notices of transfer.
  54. 46War crimes: abolition of transfer procedure. Repealed
  55. 48Non-appearance of accused: issue of warrant.
  56. 50Enforcement of payment of fines.
  57. 51Summons to witness and warrant for his arrest.
  58. 52Remand.
  59. 53Attachment of earnings.
  60. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
  61. Tainted acquittals
  62. 54Acquittals tainted by intimidation etc.
  63. 55Conditions for making order.
  64. 56Time limits for proceedings.
  65. 57Tainted acquittals: supplementary.
  66. Derogatory assertions (Northern Ireland)
  67. 58Orders in respect of certain assertions.
  68. 59Restriction on reporting of assertions.
  69. 60Reporting of assertions: offences.
  70. 61Reporting of assertions: commencement and supplementary.
  71. Evidence: special provisions
  72. 62Television links and video recordings.
  73. 63Road traffic and transport: provision of specimens.
  74. 64Checks against fingerprints etc.
  75. Witness orders and summonses
  76. 66Summons to witness to attend Crown Court.
  77. Other miscellaneous provisions
  78. 69Proof by written statement. Repealed
  79. 70Indemnification of justices and justices’ clerks.
  80. 72Fraud.
  81. 74Alibi.
  82. General
  83. 75Time when alleged offence committed.
  84. 76Power of magistrates’ courts.
  85. 77Orders and regulations.
  86. 78Application to armed forces.
  87. 79Extent.
  88. 80Repeals.
  89. 81Citation.
  90. Part I: Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980
  91. Introduction
  92. 1Paragraph 1
  93. Amendments
  94. 6Paragraph 6
  95. 7Paragraph 7
  96. 9Paragraph 9
  97. 11Paragraph 11
  98. Criminal Law Amendment Act 1867
  99. 14Paragraph 14
  100. Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879
  101. Criminal Justice Act 1948
  102. Theft Act 1968
  103. Children and Young Persons Act 1969
  104. 21Paragraph 21
  105. Criminal Justice Act 1972
  106. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976
  107. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  108. Criminal Justice Act 1988
  109. Part III: Commencement
  110. 39Paragraph 39
  111. Statements
  112. 1Paragraph 1
  113. Depositions
  114. 2Paragraph 2
  115. Signatures
  116. 3Paragraph 3
  117. Time limit for objection
  118. Retrial
  119. 5Paragraph 5
  120. Repeals
  121. 6Paragraph 6
  122. Commencement
  123. 7Paragraph 7
  124. Schedule 3: Fraud
  125. Introduction
  126. 1Paragraph 1
  127. Preparatory hearings
  128. 2Paragraph 2
  129. 3Paragraph 3
  130. 4Paragraph 4
  131. 5Paragraph 5
  132. Reporting restrictions
  133. 6Paragraph 6
  134. 7Paragraph 7
  135. General
  136. 8Paragraph 8
  137. Schedule 4: Modifications for Northern Ireland
  138. General
  139. 1Paragraph 1
  140. 2Paragraph 2
  141. 3Paragraph 3
  142. Part I of this Act
  143. 4Paragraph 4
  144. 4AParagraph 4A
  145. 5Paragraph 5
  146. 5AParagraph 5A
  147. 5BParagraph 5B
  148. 6Paragraph 6
  149. 7Paragraph 7
  150. 8Paragraph 8
  151. 9Paragraph 9
  152. 10Paragraph 10
  153. 11Paragraph 11
  154. 12Paragraph 12
  155. 13Paragraph 13
  156. 14Paragraph 14
  157. 14AParagraph 14A
  158. Part 2 of this Act
  159. 14BParagraph 14B
  160. 14CParagraph 14C
  161. Part IV of this Act
  162. 15Paragraph 15
  163. 15AParagraph 15A
  164. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  165. 17Paragraph 17
  166. Part V of this Act
  167. 18Paragraph 18
  168. 19Paragraph 19
  169. Part VII of this Act
  170. 20Paragraph 20
  171. 21Paragraph 21
  172. 22Paragraph 22
  173. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  174. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  175. 25Paragraph 25
  176. 26Paragraph 26
  177. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  178. 28Paragraph 28
  179. 29Paragraph 29
  180. 30Paragraph 30
  181. 31Paragraph 31
  182. 32Paragraph 32
  183. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  184. 33AParagraph 33A
  185. 34Paragraph 34
  186. 35Paragraph 35
  187. 36Paragraph 36
  188. Schedule 5Repeals
  189. 1Paragraph 1
  190. 2Paragraph 2