Explanatory note

This Order appoints 4th April 2005 as the day on which the revised code of practice prepared under section 23 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (“the Act”) and laid before each House of Parliament on 21st February 2005 is brought into operation in England and Wales.

The code of practice, which contains provisions relating to the conduct of criminal investigations, applies by virtue of section 25(3) of the Act in relation to suspected or alleged offences into which no criminal investigation has begun before the day on which the code comes into operation.

The code brought into operation by this Order replaces the one brought into operation by the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (Code of Practice) (No. 2) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/1033).