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Criminal Procedure Rules

The Criminal Procedure Rules give courts in England and Wales explicit powers to actively manage the preparation of criminal cases, to get rid of unfair and unnecessary delays and promote certainty about what should be happening. The first Criminal Procedure Rules came into force in 2005. They are amended twice a year, in April and October.

On behalf of the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, we arrange consultations on proposed new rules and handle the publicity when they are made. We help people working in the criminal justice system to draw to the Committee's attention any problems with existing legislation or court procedures.