Article 1 Citation, commencement and interpretation

These Rules may be cited as the Magistrates' Courts (Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996) (Tainted Acquittals) Rules 1997 and shall come into force on 15th April 1997.

In these Rules—

• “the Act” means the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996^f1;

• “acquittal” means an acquittal (of a person of an offence) which is the subject of a certification made under section 54(2) of the Act; and

• “the register” means the register kept pursuant to rule 66 of the Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981^f2.