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Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 in Wales

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. Part III: Preparatory Hearings
  44. Introduction
  45. 28Introduction.
  46. Preparatory hearings
  47. 29Power to order preparatory hearing.
  48. 30Start of trial and arraignment.
  49. 31The preparatory hearing.
  50. 32Orders before preparatory hearing.
  51. 33Criminal Procedure Rules.
  52. 34Later stages of trial.
  53. Appeals
  54. 35Appeals to Court of Appeal.
  55. 36Appeals to Supreme Court.
  56. Reporting restrictions
  57. 37Restrictions on reporting.
  58. 38Offences in connection with reporting.
  59. Part IV: Rulings
  60. 39Meaning of pre-trial hearing.
  61. 40Power to make rulings.
  62. 41Restrictions on reporting.
  63. 42Offences in connection with reporting.
  64. 43Application of this Part.
  65. Part V: Committal, Transfer, Etc.
  66. 44Reinstatement of certain provisions.
  67. 45Notices of transfer.
  68. 46War crimes: abolition of transfer procedure. Repealed
  69. 47Committal proceedings.
  70. Part VI: Magistrates’ Courts
  71. 48Non-appearance of accused: issue of warrant.
  72. 49Either way offences: accused’s intention as to plea.
  73. 50Enforcement of payment of fines.
  74. 51Summons to witness and warrant for his arrest.
  75. 52Remand.
  76. 53Attachment of earnings.
  77. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
  78. Tainted acquittals
  79. 54Acquittals tainted by intimidation etc.
  80. 55Conditions for making order.
  81. 56Time limits for proceedings.
  82. 57Tainted acquittals: supplementary.
  83. Derogatory assertions (Northern Ireland)
  84. 58Orders in respect of certain assertions.
  85. 59Restriction on reporting of assertions.
  86. 60Reporting of assertions: offences.
  87. 61Reporting of assertions: commencement and supplementary.
  88. Evidence: special provisions
  89. 62Television links and video recordings.
  90. 63Road traffic and transport: provision of specimens.
  91. 64Checks against fingerprints etc.
  92. Witness orders and summonses
  93. 65Abolition of witness orders. Repealed
  94. 66Summons to witness to attend Crown Court.
  95. 67Witness summons: securing attendance of witness.
  96. Other miscellaneous provisions
  97. 68Use of written statements and depositions at trial.
  98. 69Proof by written statement. Repealed
  99. 70Indemnification of justices and justices’ clerks.
  100. 71Meaning of preliminary stage of criminal proceedings.
  101. 72Fraud.
  102. 74Alibi.
  103. General
  104. 75Time when alleged offence committed.
  105. 76Power of magistrates’ courts.
  106. 77Orders and regulations.
  107. 78Application to armed forces.
  108. 79Extent.
  109. 80Repeals.
  110. 81Citation.
  111. Schedule 1: Committal Proceedings
  112. Part I: Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980
  113. Introduction
  114. 1Paragraph 1
  115. Amendments
  116. 2Paragraph 2
  117. 3Paragraph 3
  118. 4Paragraph 4
  119. 5Paragraph 5
  120. 6Paragraph 6
  121. 7Paragraph 7
  122. 8Paragraph 8
  123. 9Paragraph 9
  124. 10Paragraph 10
  125. 11Paragraph 11
  126. 12Paragraph 12
  127. 13Paragraph 13
  128. Part II: Other Provisions
  129. Criminal Law Amendment Act 1867
  130. 14Paragraph 14
  131. Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879
  132. 15Paragraph 15
  133. 16Paragraph 16
  134. Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933
  135. 17Paragraph 17
  136. Criminal Justice Act 1948
  137. 18Paragraph 18
  138. Theft Act 1968
  139. 19Paragraph 19
  140. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  141. Children and Young Persons Act 1969
  142. 21Paragraph 21
  143. Criminal Justice Act 1972
  144. 22Paragraph 22
  145. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976
  146. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  147. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  148. 24Paragraph 24
  149. 25Paragraph 25
  150. 26Paragraph 26
  151. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  152. Criminal Justice Act 1988
  153. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  154. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  155. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  156. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  157. 32Paragraph 32
  158. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  159. 34Paragraph 34
  160. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
  161. 35Paragraph 35
  162. 36Paragraph 36
  163. 37Paragraph 37
  164. 38Paragraph 38
  165. Part III: Commencement
  166. 39Paragraph 39
  167. Schedule 2: Statements and depositions
  168. Statements
  169. 1Paragraph 1
  170. Depositions
  171. 2Paragraph 2
  172. Signatures
  173. 3Paragraph 3
  174. Time limit for objection
  175. 4Paragraph 4
  176. Retrial
  177. 5Paragraph 5
  178. Repeals
  179. 6Paragraph 6
  180. Commencement
  181. 7Paragraph 7
  182. Schedule 3: Fraud
  183. Introduction
  184. 1Paragraph 1
  185. Preparatory hearings
  186. 2Paragraph 2
  187. 3Paragraph 3
  188. 4Paragraph 4
  189. 5Paragraph 5
  190. Reporting restrictions
  191. 6Paragraph 6
  192. 7Paragraph 7
  193. General
  194. 8Paragraph 8
  195. Schedule 4: Modifications for Northern Ireland
  196. General
  197. 1Paragraph 1
  198. 2Paragraph 2
  199. 3Paragraph 3
  200. Part I of this Act
  201. 4Paragraph 4
  202. 4AParagraph 4A
  203. 5Paragraph 5
  204. 5AParagraph 5A
  205. 5BParagraph 5B
  206. 6Paragraph 6
  207. 7Paragraph 7
  208. 8Paragraph 8
  209. 9Paragraph 9
  210. 10Paragraph 10
  211. 11Paragraph 11
  212. 12Paragraph 12
  213. 13Paragraph 13
  214. 14Paragraph 14
  215. 14AParagraph 14A
  216. Part 2 of this Act
  217. 14BParagraph 14B
  218. 14CParagraph 14C
  219. Part IV of this Act
  220. 15Paragraph 15
  221. 15AParagraph 15A
  222. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  223. 17Paragraph 17
  224. Part V of this Act
  225. 18Paragraph 18
  226. 19Paragraph 19
  227. Part VII of this Act
  228. 20Paragraph 20
  229. 21Paragraph 21
  230. 22Paragraph 22
  231. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  232. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  233. 25Paragraph 25
  234. 26Paragraph 26
  235. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  236. 28Paragraph 28
  237. 29Paragraph 29
  238. 30Paragraph 30
  239. 31Paragraph 31
  240. 32Paragraph 32
  241. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  242. 33AParagraph 33A
  243. 34Paragraph 34
  244. 35Paragraph 35
  245. 36Paragraph 36
  246. Schedule 5Repeals
  247. 1Paragraph 1
  248. 2Paragraph 2