The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) Order 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order appoints 1st February 2008 as the date on which revised codes of practice under sections 60(1)(a) and 66(1)(a) to (d) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (“the Act”) will come into operation, superseding the existing codes of practice issued under those sections.

The changes primarily clarify stop and search powers under section 1(9) of the Act, implement Lord Carter’s review of legal aid procurement (published on 13th July 2006 which can be found at http://www.legalaidprocurementreview.gov.uk/index.htm), enable the police to caution suspects in Welsh where appropriate and enable the audio recording of interviews on secure digital network to be piloted. They also reflect other minor legislative changes and make other minor corrections to the previous code of practice.

The codes of practice are published by the Stationery Office and copies may be obtained from its bookshops. The changes contained in this Order will be notified to the Stationery Office and an addendum provided to the version of codes B, D and E published on 1st January 2006, to the version of code A published on 31st August 2006 and to the version of code C published on 25th July 2006. The revised codes of practice will also be available on the Home Office website.