The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020

Pre-trial hearings in a magistrates’ court: general rules E+W

3.16.—(1) A magistrates’ court―

(a) must conduct a preparation for trial hearing unless―

[F1 (i) under rule 9.11 or rule 9.13 (Adult defendant: allocation for magistrates’ court trial; Young defendant) the defendant indicates an intention to plead guilty, or]

(ii) the case is one to which rule 24.8 or rule 24.9 applies (Written guilty plea: special rules; Single justice procedure: special rules); and

(b) may conduct a further pre-trial case management hearing (and if necessary more than one such hearing) only where―

(i) the court anticipates a guilty plea,

(ii) it is necessary to conduct such a hearing in order to give directions for an effective trial, or

(iii) such a hearing is required to set ground rules for the conduct of the questioning of a witness or defendant.

(2) At a preparation for trial hearing the court must give directions for an effective trial.

[F2 (3) At a preparation for trial hearing, if the defendant is present—

(a) the court must satisfy itself that there has been explained to the defendant, in terms the defendant can understand (with help, if necessary), that the defendant will receive credit for a guilty plea;

(b) the court may explain, in terms the defendant can understand (with help, if necessary), that the defendant may ask the court for an indication of whether a custodial or non-custodial sentence is more likely in the event of a guilty plea there and then, but the court need not give such an indication;

(c) whether the court gives such an explanation or not the defendant may ask the court for such an indication;

(d) if the defendant asks the court for such an indication, the prosecutor must―

(i) provide any information relevant to sentence not yet served but which is available there and then, and

(ii) identify any other matter relevant to sentence, including the legislation applicable, any sentencing guidelines or guideline cases and aggravating and mitigating factors;

(e) the court must take the defendant’s plea or if no plea can be taken then find out whether the defendant is likely to plead guilty or not guilty; and

(f) unless the defendant pleads guilty, the court must satisfy itself that there has been explained to the defendant, in terms the defendant can understand (with help, if necessary), that at the trial―

(i) the defendant will have the right to give evidence after the court has heard the prosecution case,

(ii) if the defendant does not attend, the trial is likely to take place in the defendant’s absence, and

(iii) where the defendant is released on bail, failure to attend court when required is an offence for which the defendant may be arrested and punished and bail may be withdrawn.]

(4) A pre-trial case management hearing must be in public, as a general rule, but all or part of the hearing may be in private if the court so directs.

F3 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[Note. F4 ...

Under section 11 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980(1), where the defendant does not attend the trial, where the defendant is at least 18 years old, and subject to some exceptions, then the court must proceed in his or her absence unless it appears to the court to be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. Where the defendant does not attend the trial and he or she is under 18 then, again subject to some exceptions, the court may proceed in his or her absence.

Under sections 8A and 8B of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980(2), a pre-trial ruling about the admissibility of evidence or any other question of law is binding unless it later appears to the court in the interests of justice to discharge or vary that ruling.

F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]

Textual Amendments

F1 Rule 3.16(1)(a)(i) substituted (4.10.2021) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/849), rules 1, 4(d)(i)

F2 Rule 3.16(3) substituted (4.10.2021) by The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/849), rules 1, 4(d)(ii)

F3 Rule 3.16(5) omitted (2.10.2023) by virtue of The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/786), rules 1, 4(c)(i)

F4 Words in rule 3.16 Note omitted (4.10.2021) by virtue of The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/849), rules 1, 4(d)(iv)

F5 Words in rule 3.16 Note omitted (2.10.2023) by virtue of The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/786), rules 1, 4(c)(ii)

Commencement Information

I1 Rule 3.16 in force at 5.10.2020, see Preamble

(1)

1980 c. 43; section 11 was amended by section 123 of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to, the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33), section 168 of, and paragraph 39 of Schedule 10 to, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33), section 119 of, and paragraph 39 of Schedule 8 to, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37), paragraphs 25 and 26 of Schedule 32 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), section 54 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4) and sections 48 and 50 of, and paragraphs 2 and 4 of Schedule 11 to, the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 (c. 2).

(2)

1980 c. 43; section 8A was inserted by section 45 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39) and amended by SI 2006/2493 and paragraphs 12 and 14 of Schedule 5 to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10). Section 8B was inserted by section 45 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39) and amended by paragraph 51 of Schedule 3, and Part 4 of Schedule 37, to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44).