Part 3Officers of court

Miscellaneous

77Effect of code of practice

(1)

F1An officer of court must, in exercising the officer's functions or undertaking any activities, have regard to the provisions (so far as they are applicable) of any code of practice published under section F263A of this Act.

(2)

A failure on the part of F3an officer of court to comply with any provision of a code of practice does not of itself render the officer liable to any criminal or civil proceedings.

(3)

A code of practice is admissible in evidence in any criminal or civil proceedings.

(4)

If any provision of a code of practice appears to—

(a)

the court or tribunal conducting any civil or criminal proceedings; or

F4(b)

a relevant court (within the meaning of subsection (8) of section 79 of the 1987 Act (investigation of alleged misconduct)) in disciplinary proceedings under that section;

to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings, that provision of the code may be taken into account in determining that question.