Explanatory note

These Rules amend the Crown Court Rules 1982. They make provision for the procedure to be adopted when bringing or abandoning an appeal by an accused or the prosecution, under section 22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (c. 23), against a decision of a magistrates` court to extend or further extend a time limit imposed under regulations made under that section or to refuse such an extension. The Rules enable applications for extensions or further extensions before a Crown Court or appeals from decisions of magistrates` courts relating to time limits to be heard by a judge of the Crown Court sitting in chambers.

The Rules also amend rule 19 of the 1982 Rules, which governs the procedure on bail applications, so as to refer to the appropriate Crown Prosecutor, instead of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where the prosecution is carried on by the Crown Prosecution Service.