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Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996

1996 c. 25 · Enacted 4 July 1996 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 17 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 6 October 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 5(1A)insertedJustice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 Sch. 2 para. 8
s. 13(1)(ba)(b)substituted for s. 13(1)(b) by 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 8(2) (as inserted)Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(f)(iii)
s. 5(1A)words substituted in earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 8(1)Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(f)(ii)
s. 5(1A)amendment to earlier affecting provision 2015 c. 9 (N.I.), Sch. 2 para. 8Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 s. 4(9)(f)(i)
s. 62repealedThe Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 Sch. 3
Sch. 4 para. 25repealedThe Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 Sch. 3
Sch. 4 para. 4(f) and wordaddedThe Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 1 para. 16
Sch. 4 para. 11repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
Sch. 4 para. 19repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
s. 18excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(3)
s. 20(1)excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(2)
s. 1(6)addedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(4)
s. 3(3)-(5)excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(2)
s. 17excludedSexual Offences (Protected Material) Act 1997 s. 9(3)
s. 6BinsertedCriminal Justice Act 2003 s. 33(3)
s. 6DinsertedCriminal Justice Act 2003 s. 35
Sch. 4 para. 16repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 12

An Act to make provision about criminal procedure and criminal investigations.

[4th July 1996]

E1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Annotations to the whole text

Extent

E1

Act extends to Northern Ireland but the operation of Sch. 4 is limited by application as mentioned in s.79(4)

Contents

  1. Part I: Disclosure
  2. Introduction
  3. 1Application of this Part.
  4. 2General interpretation.
  5. The main provisions
  6. 3Initial duty of prosecutor to disclose.
  7. 4Initial duty to disclose: further provisions.
  8. 5Compulsory disclosure by accused.
  9. 6Voluntary disclosure by accused.
  10. 6AContents of defence statement
  11. 6BUpdated disclosure by accused Not yet in force
  12. 6CNotification of intention to call defence witnesses
  13. 6DNotification of names of experts instructed by accused Not yet in force
  14. 6EDisclosure by accused: further provisions
  15. 7Secondary disclosure by prosecutor. Repealed
  16. 7AContinuing duty of prosecutor to disclose
  17. 8Application by accused for disclosure.
  18. 9Continuing duty of prosecutor to disclose. Repealed
  19. 10Prosecutor’s failure to observe time limits.
  20. 11Faults in disclosure by accused.
  21. Time limits
  22. 12Time limits.
  23. 13Time limits: transitional.
  24. Public interest
  25. 14Public interest: review for summary trials.
  26. 15Public interest: review in other cases.
  27. 16Applications: opportunity to be heard.
  28. Confidentiality
  29. 17Confidentiality of disclosed information.
  30. 18Confidentiality: contravention.
  31. Other provisions
  32. 19Rules of court.
  33. 20Other statutory rules as to disclosure.
  34. 21Common law rules as to disclosure.
  35. 21ACode of practice for police interviews of witnesses notified by accused
  36. Part II: Criminal Investigations
  37. 22Introduction.
  38. 23Code of practice.
  39. 24Examples of disclosure provisions.
  40. 25Operation and revision of code.
  41. 26Effect of code.
  42. 27Common law rules as to criminal investigations.
  43. Part III: Preparatory Hearings
  44. Introduction
  45. 28Introduction.
  46. Preparatory hearings
  47. 29Power to order preparatory hearing.
  48. 30Start of trial and arraignment.
  49. 31The preparatory hearing.
  50. 32Orders before preparatory hearing.
  51. 33Criminal Procedure Rules.
  52. 34Later stages of trial.
  53. Appeals
  54. 35Appeals to Court of Appeal.
  55. 36Appeals to Supreme Court.
  56. Reporting restrictions
  57. 37Restrictions on reporting.
  58. 38Offences in connection with reporting.
  59. Part IV: Rulings
  60. 39Meaning of pre-trial hearing.
  61. 40Power to make rulings.
  62. 41Restrictions on reporting.
  63. 42Offences in connection with reporting.
  64. 43Application of this Part.
  65. Part V: Committal, Transfer, Etc.
  66. 44Reinstatement of certain provisions.
  67. 45Notices of transfer.
  68. 46War crimes: abolition of transfer procedure. Repealed
  69. 47Committal proceedings.
  70. Part VI: Magistrates’ Courts
  71. 48Non-appearance of accused: issue of warrant.
  72. 49Either way offences: accused’s intention as to plea.
  73. 50Enforcement of payment of fines.
  74. 51Summons to witness and warrant for his arrest.
  75. 52Remand.
  76. 53Attachment of earnings.
  77. Part VII: Miscellaneous and General
  78. Tainted acquittals
  79. 54Acquittals tainted by intimidation etc.
  80. 55Conditions for making order.
  81. 56Time limits for proceedings.
  82. 57Tainted acquittals: supplementary.
  83. Derogatory assertions (Northern Ireland)
  84. 58Orders in respect of certain assertions.
  85. 59Restriction on reporting of assertions.
  86. 60Reporting of assertions: offences.
  87. 61Reporting of assertions: commencement and supplementary.
  88. Evidence: special provisions
  89. 62Television links and video recordings.
  90. 63Road traffic and transport: provision of specimens.
  91. 64Checks against fingerprints etc.
  92. Witness orders and summonses
  93. 65Abolition of witness orders. Repealed
  94. 66Summons to witness to attend Crown Court.
  95. 67Witness summons: securing attendance of witness.
  96. Other miscellaneous provisions
  97. 68Use of written statements and depositions at trial.
  98. 69Proof by written statement. Repealed
  99. 70Indemnification of justices and justices’ clerks.
  100. 71Meaning of preliminary stage of criminal proceedings.
  101. 72Fraud.
  102. 73Amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
  103. 74Alibi.
  104. General
  105. 75Time when alleged offence committed.
  106. 76Power of magistrates’ courts.
  107. 77Orders and regulations.
  108. 78Application to armed forces.
  109. 79Extent.
  110. 80Repeals.
  111. 81Citation.
  112. Schedule 1: Committal Proceedings
  113. Part I: Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980
  114. Introduction
  115. 1Paragraph 1
  116. Amendments
  117. 2Paragraph 2
  118. 3Paragraph 3
  119. 4Paragraph 4
  120. 5Paragraph 5
  121. 6Paragraph 6
  122. 7Paragraph 7
  123. 8Paragraph 8
  124. 9Paragraph 9
  125. 10Paragraph 10
  126. 11Paragraph 11
  127. 12Paragraph 12
  128. 13Paragraph 13
  129. Part II: Other Provisions
  130. Criminal Law Amendment Act 1867
  131. 14Paragraph 14
  132. Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879
  133. 15Paragraph 15
  134. 16Paragraph 16
  135. Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933
  136. 17Paragraph 17
  137. Criminal Justice Act 1948
  138. 18Paragraph 18
  139. Theft Act 1968
  140. 19Paragraph 19
  141. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  142. Children and Young Persons Act 1969
  143. 21Paragraph 21
  144. Criminal Justice Act 1972
  145. 22Paragraph 22
  146. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976
  147. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  148. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
  149. 24Paragraph 24
  150. 25Paragraph 25
  151. 26Paragraph 26
  152. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  153. Criminal Justice Act 1988
  154. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  155. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  156. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  157. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  158. 32Paragraph 32
  159. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  160. 34Paragraph 34
  161. Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
  162. 35Paragraph 35
  163. 36Paragraph 36
  164. 37Paragraph 37
  165. 38Paragraph 38
  166. Part III: Commencement
  167. 39Paragraph 39
  168. Schedule 2: Statements and depositions
  169. Statements
  170. 1Paragraph 1
  171. Depositions
  172. 2Paragraph 2
  173. Signatures
  174. 3Paragraph 3
  175. Time limit for objection
  176. 4Paragraph 4
  177. Retrial
  178. 5Paragraph 5
  179. Repeals
  180. 6Paragraph 6
  181. Commencement
  182. 7Paragraph 7
  183. Schedule 3: Fraud
  184. Introduction
  185. 1Paragraph 1
  186. Preparatory hearings
  187. 2Paragraph 2
  188. 3Paragraph 3
  189. 4Paragraph 4
  190. 5Paragraph 5
  191. Reporting restrictions
  192. 6Paragraph 6
  193. 7Paragraph 7
  194. General
  195. 8Paragraph 8
  196. Schedule 4: Modifications for Northern Ireland
  197. General
  198. 1Paragraph 1
  199. 2Paragraph 2
  200. 3Paragraph 3
  201. Part I of this Act
  202. 4Paragraph 4
  203. 4AParagraph 4A
  204. 5Paragraph 5
  205. 5AParagraph 5A
  206. 5BParagraph 5B
  207. 6Paragraph 6
  208. 7Paragraph 7
  209. 8Paragraph 8
  210. 9Paragraph 9
  211. 10Paragraph 10
  212. 11Paragraph 11
  213. 12Paragraph 12
  214. 13Paragraph 13
  215. 14Paragraph 14
  216. 14AParagraph 14A
  217. Part 2 of this Act
  218. 14BParagraph 14B
  219. 14CParagraph 14C
  220. Part IV of this Act
  221. 15Paragraph 15
  222. 15AParagraph 15A
  223. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  224. 17Paragraph 17
  225. Part V of this Act
  226. 18Paragraph 18
  227. 19Paragraph 19
  228. Part VII of this Act
  229. 20Paragraph 20
  230. 21Paragraph 21
  231. 22Paragraph 22
  232. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  233. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  234. 25Paragraph 25
  235. 26Paragraph 26
  236. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  237. 28Paragraph 28
  238. 29Paragraph 29
  239. 30Paragraph 30
  240. 31Paragraph 31
  241. 32Paragraph 32
  242. 33Paragraph 33 Repealed
  243. 33AParagraph 33A
  244. 34Paragraph 34
  245. 35Paragraph 35
  246. 36Paragraph 36
  247. Schedule 5Repeals
  248. 1Paragraph 1
  249. 2Paragraph 2