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Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 in Scotland

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. Introduction
  2. 2General interpretation.
  3. 6BUpdated disclosure by accused Not yet in force
  4. 6CNotification of intention to call defence witnesses
  5. 6DNotification of names of experts instructed by accused Not yet in force
  6. 6EDisclosure by accused: further provisions
  7. Time limits
  8. Public interest
  9. Confidentiality
  10. 18Confidentiality: contravention.
  11. 22Introduction.
  12. 24Examples of disclosure provisions.
  13. 25Operation and revision of code.
  14. 26Effect of code.
  15. 27Common law rules as to criminal investigations.
  16. Part III: Preparatory Hearings
  17. 30Start of trial and arraignment.
  18. 32Orders before preparatory hearing.
  19. Reporting restrictions
  20. 37Restrictions on reporting.
  21. 38Offences in connection with reporting.
  22. Part IV: Rulings
  23. 41Restrictions on reporting.
  24. 42Offences in connection with reporting.
  25. 48Non-appearance of accused: issue of warrant.
  26. 50Enforcement of payment of fines.
  27. 51Summons to witness and warrant for his arrest.
  28. 52Remand.
  29. 53Attachment of earnings.
  30. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
  31. 54Acquittals tainted by intimidation etc.
  32. 55Conditions for making order.
  33. 57Tainted acquittals: supplementary.
  34. Derogatory assertions (Northern Ireland)
  35. 59Restriction on reporting of assertions.
  36. 60Reporting of assertions: offences.
  37. 61Reporting of assertions: commencement and supplementary.
  38. Evidence: special provisions
  39. 63Road traffic and transport: provision of specimens.
  40. 66Summons to witness to attend Crown Court.
  41. Other miscellaneous provisions
  42. 72Fraud.
  43. 73Amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
  44. 74Alibi.
  45. General
  46. 78Application to armed forces.
  47. 79Extent.
  48. 81Citation.
  49. Part I: Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980
  50. Introduction
  51. 1Paragraph 1
  52. Amendments
  53. 6Paragraph 6
  54. 7Paragraph 7
  55. 9Paragraph 9
  56. 11Paragraph 11
  57. Criminal Law Amendment Act 1867
  58. 14Paragraph 14
  59. Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879
  60. Criminal Justice Act 1948
  61. Theft Act 1968
  62. Children and Young Persons Act 1969
  63. 21Paragraph 21
  64. Criminal Justice Act 1972
  65. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976
  66. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  67. Criminal Justice Act 1988
  68. Part III: Commencement
  69. 39Paragraph 39
  70. Statements
  71. 1Paragraph 1
  72. Depositions
  73. 2Paragraph 2
  74. Signatures
  75. 3Paragraph 3
  76. Time limit for objection
  77. Retrial
  78. 5Paragraph 5
  79. Repeals
  80. 6Paragraph 6
  81. Commencement
  82. 7Paragraph 7
  83. Schedule 3: Fraud
  84. 1Paragraph 1
  85. 2Paragraph 2
  86. 3Paragraph 3
  87. 4Paragraph 4
  88. 5Paragraph 5
  89. Reporting restrictions
  90. 6Paragraph 6
  91. 7Paragraph 7
  92. General
  93. 8Paragraph 8
  94. Schedule 4: Modifications for Northern Ireland
  95. General
  96. 1Paragraph 1
  97. 2Paragraph 2
  98. 3Paragraph 3
  99. Part I of this Act
  100. 4Paragraph 4
  101. 4AParagraph 4A
  102. 5Paragraph 5
  103. 5AParagraph 5A
  104. 5BParagraph 5B
  105. 6Paragraph 6
  106. 8Paragraph 8
  107. 9Paragraph 9
  108. 10Paragraph 10
  109. 11Paragraph 11
  110. 12Paragraph 12
  111. 13Paragraph 13
  112. 14Paragraph 14
  113. 14AParagraph 14A
  114. Part 2 of this Act
  115. 14BParagraph 14B
  116. 14CParagraph 14C
  117. Part IV of this Act
  118. 15Paragraph 15
  119. 15AParagraph 15A
  120. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  121. 17Paragraph 17
  122. Part V of this Act
  123. 18Paragraph 18
  124. 19Paragraph 19
  125. Part VII of this Act
  126. 20Paragraph 20
  127. 21Paragraph 21
  128. 22Paragraph 22
  129. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  130. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  131. 25Paragraph 25
  132. 26Paragraph 26
  133. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  134. 28Paragraph 28
  135. 29Paragraph 29
  136. 30Paragraph 30
  137. 31Paragraph 31
  138. 32Paragraph 32
  139. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  140. 33AParagraph 33A
  141. 34Paragraph 34
  142. 35Paragraph 35
  143. 36Paragraph 36
  144. Schedule 5Repeals
  145. 2Paragraph 2