# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 13.4: Information to be included in a warrant

Extent: E+W

(1) A warrant must identify—
(a) each person to whom it is directed;
(b) the defendant against whom it was issued;
(c) the reason for its issue;
(d) the court that issued it, unless that is otherwise recorded by the court officer; and
(e) the court office for the court that issued it.
(2) A warrant for detention or imprisonment must contain a record of any decision by the court under—
(a) section 91 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (remands of children otherwise than on bail), including in particular—
(i) whether the defendant must be detained in local authority accommodation or youth detention accommodation,
(ii) the local authority designated by the court,
(iii) any requirement imposed by the court on that authority,
(iv) any condition imposed by the court on the defendant, and
(v) the reason for any such requirement or condition;
(b) section 80 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (application of money found on defaulter to satisfy sum adjudged); or
(c) section 82(1) or (4) of the 1980 Act (conditions for issue of a warrant).
(3) A warrant for detention or imprisonment must include such an indication of the defendant’s physical and mental health as may be needed to alert those to whom the warrant is directed—
(a) to any vulnerability of the defendant; and
(b) to any risk to others that may be posed by the defendant.
(4) The indication required by paragraph (3) may be given by reference to an accompanying document.
(5) A warrant that contains an error is not invalid, as long as—
(a) it was issued in respect of a lawful decision by the court; and
(b) it contains enough information to identify that decision.
[Note. See sections 93(7) and 102(5) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Under section 91 of the Act, instead of granting bail to a defendant under 18 the court may—
(a) remand him or her to local authority accommodation and, after consulting with that authority, impose on the defendant a condition that the court could impose if granting bail; or
(b) remand him or her to youth detention accommodation, if the defendant is at least 12 years old and the other conditions, about the offence and the defendant, prescribed by the Act are met.
Under section 80 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, the court may decide that any money found on the defendant must not be applied towards payment of the sum for which a warrant is issued under section 76 of that Act (enforcement of sums adjudged to be paid).
See section 82(6) of the 1980 Act. Under section 82(1) and (4), the court may only issue a warrant for the defendant’s imprisonment for non-payment of a sum due where it finds that the prescribed conditions are met.
Under section 123 of the 1980 Act, “no objection shall be allowed to any … warrant to procure the presence of the defendant, for any defect in it in substance or in form …”.]

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/13.4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-13.4/enacted
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.