PART 15 PREPARATORY HEARINGS IN THE CROWN COURT

15.2 Exercise of court’s powers
The court may decide whether to order a preparatory hearing—
(a) on an application or on its own initiative;
(b) at a hearing, in public or in private, or without a hearing;
(c) in a party’s absence, if that party—
(i) applied for the order, or
(ii) has had at least 14 days in which to make representations.