# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 20.1: When this Part applies

Extent: E+W

This Part applies in a magistrates’ court and in the Crown Court where a party wants to introduce hearsay evidence within the meaning of section 114 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
[Note. Under section 114 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, a statement not made in oral evidence is admissible as evidence of any matter stated if—
(a) a statutory provision makes it admissible;
(b) a rule of law preserved by section 118 makes it admissible;
(c) the parties agree to it being admissible; or
(d) it is in the interests of justice for it to be admissible.
Under section 115 of the Act—
(a) a “statement” means any representation of fact or opinion, by any means, and includes a representation in pictorial form; and
(b) a “matter stated” is something stated by someone with the apparent purpose of—
(i) causing another person to believe it, or
(ii) causing another person, or a machine, to act or operate on the basis that the matter is as stated.]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/20.1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-20.1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.