{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-4.6",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-4.6.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2025/909",
  "legislation_title": "The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025",
  "path": "rule/4.6",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "4.6",
  "heading": "Service by electronic means",
  "text": "(1) This rule applies where—\n(a) the person to be served—\n(i) has given an electronic address and has not refused to accept service at that address, or\n(ii) is given access to an electronic address at which a document may be deposited and has not refused to accept service by the deposit of a document at that address; or\n(b) the person to be served is legally represented in the case and the legal representative—\n(i) has given an electronic address, or\n(ii) is given access to an electronic address at which a document may be deposited.\n(2) A document may be served—\n(a) by sending it by electronic means to the address which the recipient has given; or\n(b) by depositing it at an address to which the recipient has been given access and—\n(i) in every case, making it possible for the recipient to read the document, or view or listen to its content, as the case may be,\n(ii) unless the court otherwise directs, making it possible for the recipient to make and keep an electronic copy of the document, and\n(iii) notifying the recipient of the deposit of the document (which notice may be given by electronic means).\n(3) Where the person to be served under this rule is the court officer—\n(a) the address for service is the relevant court office; and\n(b) if service is by deposit under paragraph (2)(b), notice of that deposit—\n(i) must be given only where arrangements for use of the electronic address advertised under rule 4.1(3) so require, and\n(ii) if so required, must be given in accordance with those arrangements.\n(4) Where a document is served under this rule the person serving it need not provide a paper copy as well.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Rule 4.6 in force at 6.10.2025, see Preamble"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word inserted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2026/721",
      "affecting_title": "The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "word omitted",
      "affecting": "uksi/2026/721",
      "affecting_title": "The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/4.6",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T21:12:44.140935+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}