Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000

Amendment of drug treatment and testing order

21 (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 55(1), (6) and (8) of this Act, the court responsible for a drug treatment and testing order may by order—

(a) vary or cancel any of the requirements or provisions of the order on an application by the responsible officer under sub-paragraph (2) or (3)(a) or (b) below; or

(b) amend the order on an application by that officer under sub-paragraph (3)(c) below.

(2) Where the treatment provider is of the opinion that the treatment or testing requirement of the order should be varied or cancelled—

(a) he shall make a report in writing to that effect to the responsible officer; and

(b) that officer shall apply to the court for the variation or cancellation of the requirement.

(3) Where the responsible officer is of the opinion—

(a) that the treatment or testing requirement of the order should be so varied as to specify a different treatment provider,

(b) that any other requirement of the order, or a provision of the order, should be varied or cancelled, or

(c) that the order should be so amended as to provide for each subsequent periodic review (required by section 54(6)(a) of this Act) to be made without a hearing instead of at a review hearing, or vice versa,

he shall apply to the court for the variation or cancellation of the requirement or provision or the amendment of the order.

(4) The court—

(a) shall not amend the treatment or testing requirement unless the offender expresses his willingness to comply with the requirement as amended; and

(b) shall not amend any provision of the order so as to reduce the treatment and testing period below the minimum specified in section 52(1) of this Act, or to increase it above the maximum so specified.

(5) If the offender fails to express his willingness to comply with the treatment or testing requirement as proposed to be amended by the court, the court may—

(a) revoke the order; and

(b) deal with him, for the offence in respect of which the order was made, in any way in which it could deal with him if he had just been convicted by or before the court of the offence.

(6) In dealing with the offender under sub-paragraph (5)(b) above, the court—

(a) shall take into account the extent to which the offender has complied with the requirements of the order; and

(b) may impose a custodial sentence (where the order was made in respect of an offence punishable with such a sentence) notwithstanding anything in section 79(2) of this Act.

(7) Paragraph 9(3) above shall apply for the purposes of this paragraph as it applies for the purposes of paragraph 4 above, but as if for the words “paragraph 4(1)(d) above” there were substituted “paragraph 21(5)(b) below”.