PART 15PREPARATORY HEARINGS IN THE CROWN COURT
Exercise of court’s powers15.2
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.