The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025
UK Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 909 — creates 51 criminal offences.
- Made
- 15 July 2025
- In force from
- 6 October 2025
- Extent
- Not stated
- Subject
- Terrorism, official secrets and national security
- Made under
- Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933, Courts Act 1980, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, Paragraph 11(5) of Schedule 5 to the Terrorism Act 2000, Part 10 Section 2 of the Indictments Act 1915, Part 8 Section 48(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Rules under section 69 of the Courts Act 2003, Schedule 1 to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Schedule 6A to the Terrorism Act 2000, Section 12(1) and (3) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, Section 132(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, Section 141(2) of the Sentencing Act 2020, Section 157(9) of the Extradition Act 2003, Section 159(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, Section 160(10) of the Extradition Act 2003, Section 19 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, Section 2 of the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1889, Section 30(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, Section 32(1) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Rules) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025: a revoke the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020, S.I. 2020/759, with the amendments made to those Rules by S.I. 2021/40, 2021/849, 2022/45, 2022/815, 2023/44, 2023/786, 2024/62, 2024/842 and 2025/60; b consolidate and replace the provision made by those rules; and c include the further rule amendments listed beneath. Rule Amendment Part 2 Rule 2.1 is amended to provide for the transition from the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025. Transitional provisions for some applications to authorise extensions of pre-charge bail that were included in the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 are omitted. Rule 2.7 is amended to allow an authorised court officer in the Crown Court to amend a community order or a suspended sentence order where a probation officer has allowed an offender to change the local justice area in which they reside. Part 3 Rule 3.2 is amended to remove the implication that the court may direct a reporting or access restriction only on an application. Rules 3.16 and 3.21 are amended to require routine consideration of reporting and comparable restrictions during preparation for trial. Part 5 Rules 5.8 and 5.11 are amended to remove the implication that the court may withhold information only by reason of a reporting restriction. Part 6 Rule 6.2 is amended to ensure that a prospective court reporter is recognised as a person directly affected by a reporting restriction. Rules 6.4 and 6.5 are amended to accommodate arrangements that facilitate notice to such a reporter of an application for a reporting restriction. Part 17 The notes to rules 17.1 and 17.2 are rearranged and expanded to refer to every statutory provision to which those rules now refer. Rule 17.2 is amended to refer to each statutory provision under which a proposed witness may be summoned or brought to court to give evidence. Rule 17.3 is amended to apply to the issue of a summons or warrant requiring a proposed witness to attend court to make a deposition under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Rule 17.8 is added to provide for the taking of such a deposition. Part 24 Rule 24.2 is amended to require magistrates’ courts, immediately before proceeding to trial, to review (i) the need for reporting or comparable directions, and (ii) arrangements for public observation and reporting. Part 25 Rule 25.2 is amended to require the Crown Court, immediately before proceeding to trial, to review (i) the need for reporting or comparable directions, and (ii) arrangements for public observation and reporting. Part 42 Rules 42.11 and 42.15 are amended to require service of a notice of appeal in confiscation proceedings on the Registrar of Criminal Appeals, not on the Crown Court officer. Rule 42.20 is amended to apply to all the appeals to which Part 42 applies. Rules 42.5, 42.11, 42.12, 42.13, 42.15, 42.16 and 42.21 are amended to correspond with comparable rules in Parts 36 to 40, which govern other types of appeal to the Court of Appeal. Glossary The glossary that was contained in the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 is omitted. Rule 17.8 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 is renumbered rule 17.9 to accommodate new rule 17.8 (described above). Rules 18.14 to 18.17 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 were revoked by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024, S.I. 2024/62. To accommodate their omission, in the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 rules 18.18 to 18.28 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 become rules 18.14 to 18.24 respectively. Rules 33.2, 33.3, 33.47, 33.48, 33.49 and 33.50 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 were revoked by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2024, S.I. 2024/62. To accommodate their omission, in the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025: a rules 33.4 to 33.46 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 become rules 33.2 to 33.44 respectively; and b rules 33.51 to 33.70 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 become rules 33.45 to 33.64 respectively. Amendments to cross-references. The following rules, and notes to rules (‘n’), are amended to bring up to date the cross-references that they contain, both generally and in consequence of the re-numbering of rules in Parts 18 and 33: 3.8, 3.8(n), 3.9, 9.5, 9.10(n), 18.3, 18.4(n), 18.5, 18.5(n), 18.20, Part 18 Summary of eligibility for measures to which the Part applies, 22.3, 22.3(n), 25.16(n), 33.11(n), 33.24, 33.25, 33.28, 33.29, 33.31, 33.44, 33.45, 33.48, 33.50, 33.51, 36.8, 36.14, 39.3, 40.3, 40.6, 42.2, 45.1(n), 45.11, 48.5(n), 48.9 and 48.9(n). Amendments for consistency of expression. Rules 33.2(3) and 33.48(3) are amended for consistency of the possessive of “witness” with other instances of that word in these Rules. Rules 34.4(4) and 36.8(2) are amended for consistency of expression with amended rule 42.5(2). These Rules come into force on 6th October 2025.
Offences created by this instrument
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22 · Status not determined · Mixed — some elements strict, some not
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22 · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22 · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(a) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(a) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(a)(i) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(a)(ii) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(a)(ii) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(b) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(b)(i) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(d) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Appeal against custody time limit decision rule 14.22(e) · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Prosecutor’s appeal against grant of bail rule 14.9(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Prosecutor’s appeal against grant of bail rule 14.9(1)(a) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Prosecutor’s appeal against grant of bail rule 14.9(1)(b) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Prosecutor’s appeal against grant of bail rule 14.9(1)(b)(ii) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- When this Part applies rule 24.1 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- When this Part applies rule 24.1(a) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Procedure if the court convicts rule 24.11 · Status not determined · Requires proof of a state of mind
- Procedure where a party is absent rule 24.12 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Procedure where a party is absent rule 24.12(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Single justice procedure: special rules rule 24.9(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Single justice procedure: special rules rule 24.9(1)(a) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Single justice procedure: special rules rule 24.9(1)(a)(ii) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Duty of court officer and custodian rule 25.18 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Provision of information for jurors rule 26.3 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Provision of information for jurors rule 26.3(c) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application for certificate rule 27.2(1) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application for certificate rule 27.2(1)(b) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application for certificate rule 27.2(1)(b)(iii) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Sentencing, etc. after committal to the Crown Court rule 28.13 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Sentencing, etc. after committal to the Crown Court rule 28.13(b) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Sentencing, etc. after committal to the Crown Court rule 28.13(e) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Sentencing, etc. after committal to the Crown Court rule 28.13(f) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Sentencing, etc. after committal to the Crown Court rule 28.13(f)(ii) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Appeal against recognition of foreign driving disqualification rule 29.6 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Pre-trial hearings in a magistrates’ court: general rules rule 3.16(3) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Pre-trial hearings in a magistrates’ court: general rules rule 3.16(3)(f) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Pre-trial hearings in a magistrates’ court: general rules rule 3.16(3)(f)(iii) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- The duty of the court rule 3.2 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Pre-trial hearings in the Crown Court: general rules rule 3.21(2) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Pre-trial hearings in the Crown Court: general rules rule 3.21(2)(c) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Pre-trial hearings in the Crown Court: general rules rule 3.21(2)(c)(iv) · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Under section 21A of the 2000 Act a person engaged in a business in the regulated sector commits an offence where the… rule 47.13 · Status not determined · Mixed — some elements strict, some not
- Under section 22B(6A) and (6B) of the 2000 Act the analysis to assist in which information may be sought may be (i)… rule 47.13 · Status not determined · Mixed — some elements strict, some not
- Under sections 330, 331 and 332 in Part 7 of the 2002 Act a person engaged in a business in the regulated sector… rule 47.20 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application to punish for contempt of court rule 47.9 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application to punish for contempt of court rule 47.9 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application to punish for contempt of court rule 47.9 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- Application to punish for contempt of court rule 47.9 · Status not determined · Strict liability
- When this Part applies rule 6.1 · Status not determined · Strict liability
What Parliament said about it
Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
- Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fourth sitting)
Commons · Public Bill Committees · 14 April 2026 · Dr Mullan
Yes, and I will be writing to the CPS about that, because commenting in the way that it has was extremely unusual. I would hope that it has a very clear explanation as to how it has been able to formulate that position, because, of course, the CPS is just articulating a particular viewpoint. As has happened, when a Government-funded agency does that, it gives it a certain weight that is not necessarily appropriate. That is why ordinarily non-departmental Government bodies are not expected to do that sort of thing. It is something we should think about more carefully. We also talked this…
- Courts and Tribunals Bill (Sixth sitting)
Commons · Public Bill Committees · 16 April 2026 · Joe Robertson
Again, I invite a Tea Room conversation —although we may have to meet somewhere geographically in the middle of the Tea Room. Any measure that materially and detrimentally alters the regime to which a defendant is subject in a way not foreseeable at the relevant time engages article 7. The Government’s own ECHR memorandum on the Crime and Policing Bill of April this year acknowledged that article 7 is engaged where the defendant could not “reasonably have foreseen” the application of a measure “at the material time”. At least we can agree that article 7 is at least engaged. A defendant who…
- Courts and Tribunals Bill (Tenth sitting)
Commons · Public Bill Committees · 23 April 2026 · Sarah Sackman
Clause 13 introduces an important new special measure, which will make a real and tangible difference to vulnerable or intimidated witnesses who come before our courts. It enables them to be accompanied by a supporter when giving evidence to reassure them and help them to give their best evidence. Crucially, it creates a rebuttable presumption that a trained professional such as an IDVA or ISVA will be allowed to accompany the witness. These specialists play a vital role in helping witnesses navigate an often stressful and emotionally demanding experience. A presumption helps ensure that…
How Parliament handled it
This instrument became law without a debate or a vote. Under the negative procedure it took effect unless a motion to stop it succeeded, and none was tabled.
- Procedure
- Made negative — law unless a motion to stop it succeeded
- Could either House amend it?
- No. A statutory instrument is put to each House as a whole thing, to be approved or not. Neither House can change a word of it.
- Committee
- Drawn to the special attention of the Houses by a scrutiny committee
Procedural history
- Instrument created 15 July 2025
- Instrument made (signed into law) 15 July 2025
- Laid before the House of Commons 22 July 2025 · Commons
- Laid before the House of Lords 22 July 2025 · Lords
- Considered by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) 9 September 2025 · Lords
- No comment by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) 9 September 2025 · Lords
- Instrument comes into force as law 6 October 2025
- Objection period ends 30 October 2025
- Instrument remains law 30 October 2025
- Procedure concluded in the House of Commons and the House of Lords 30 October 2025 · Commons, Lords
- Considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) 19 November 2025 · Commons, Lords
- Drawn to the special attention of the Houses by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) 19 November 2025 · Commons, Lords
- Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) draws the special attention of both Houses to the instrument on the grounds that it is defectively drafted 19 November 2025 · Commons, Lords
- Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments (JCSI) draws the special attention of both Houses to the instrument on the grounds that there is doubt as to whether they are intra vires 19 November 2025 · Commons, Lords
From Parliament's Statutory Instruments service. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Check the source
- This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
- Other instruments from 2025