# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 34.8: Hearings and decisions

Extent: E+W

(1) The Crown Court as a general rule must hear in public an appeal or reference to which this Part applies, but—
(a) may order any hearing to be in private; and
(b) where a hearing is about a public interest ruling, must hold that hearing in private.
(2) The Crown Court officer must give as much notice as reasonably practicable of every hearing to—
(a) the parties;
(b) any party’s custodian; and
(c) any other person whom the Crown Court requires to be notified.
(3) The Crown Court officer must serve every decision on—
(a) the parties;
(b) any other person whom the Crown Court requires to be served; and
(c) the magistrates’ court officer and any party’s custodian, where the decision determines an appeal.
(4) But where a hearing or decision is about a public interest ruling, the Crown Court officer must not—
(a) give notice of that hearing to; or
(b) serve that decision on,
anyone other than the prosecutor who applied for that ruling, unless the court otherwise directs.
[Note. See also Part 15 (Disclosure).]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/34.8 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-34.8
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.