{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-and-criminal-evidence-act-1984/section-37A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-and-criminal-evidence-act-1984/section-37A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1984/60",
  "legislation_title": "Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-and-criminal-evidence-act-1984",
  "path": "section/37A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "37A",
  "heading": "Guidance",
  "text": "(1) The Director of Public Prosecutions may issue guidance—\n(a) for the purpose of enabling custody officers to decide how persons should be dealt with under section 37(7) above or 37C(2) or 37CA(2) below, and\n(b) as to the information to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 37B(1) below.\n(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions may from time to time revise guidance issued under this section.\n(3) Custody officers are to have regard to guidance under this section in deciding how persons should be dealt with under section 37(7) above or 37C(2) or 37CA(2) below.\n(4) A report under section 9 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (report by DPP to Attorney General) must set out the provisions of any guidance issued, and any revisions to guidance made, in the year to which the report relates.\n(5) The Director of Public Prosecutions must publish in such manner as he thinks fit—\n(a) any guidance issued under this section, and\n(b) any revisions made to such guidance.\n(6) Guidance under this section may make different provision for different cases, circumstances or areas.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 37A inserted (29.1.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 28, 336, Sch. 2 para. 3; S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 37A(1)(a) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 10, 53, Sch. 6 para. 8(2); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(i) (subject to arts. 6, 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 37A(3) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 10, 53, Sch. 6 para. 8(2); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(i) (subject to arts. 6, 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 37A applied (with modifications) (25.6.2013) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 12(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (with arts. 13-31)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Ss. 37-37B modified (18.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 50, 53(1) {Sch. 4 para. 30}; S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(2)(h)Ss. 37-37B modified (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 40, 178; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 6 (subject to art. 4(2)-(7))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Ss. 37-37B modified (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), s. 31(4) (with s. 36(4))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/37A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:00:58.179601+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."
}