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PART XIVU.K. General

304 Criminal Courts Rules Council.S

(1)There shall be established a body, to be known as the Criminal Courts Rules Council (in this section referred to as “the Council”) which shall have the functions conferred on it by subsection (9) below.

(2)The Council shall consist of—

(a)the Lord Justice General, the Lord Justice Clerk and the Clerk of Justiciary;

(b)a further Lord Commissioner of Justiciary appointed by the Lord Justice General;

(c)the following persons appointed by the Lord Justice General after such consultation as he considers appropriate—

(i)two sheriffs;

(ii)two members of the Faculty of Advocates;

(iii)two solicitors;

(iv)one sheriff clerk; and

(v)one person appearing to him to have a knowledge of the procedures and practices of the district court;

(d)two persons appointed by the Lord Justice General after consultation with the Lord Advocate, at least one of whom must be a procurator fiscal;

(e)two persons appointed by the Lord Justice General after consultation with the Secretary of State, at least one of whom must be a person appearing to the Lord Justice General to have—

(i)a knowledge of the procedures and practices of the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in Scotland; and

(ii)an awareness of the interests of victims of crime and of witnesses in criminal proceedings; and

(f)any persons appointed under subsection (3) below.

(3)The Lord Justice General may appoint not more than two further persons, and the Secretary of State may appoint one person, to membership of the Council.

(4)The chairman of the Council shall be the Lord Justice General or such other member of the Council, being a Lord Commissioner of Justiciary, as the Lord Justice General may nominate.

(5)The members of the Council appointed under paragraphs (b) to (f) of subsection (2) above shall, so long as they retain the respective qualifications mentioned in those paragraphs, hold office for three years and be eligible for reappointment.

(6)Any vacancy in the membership of the Council by reason of the death or demission of office, prior to the expiry of the period for which he was appointed, of a member appointed under any of paragraphs (b) to (f) of subsection (2) above shall be filled by the appointment by the Lord Justice General or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State, after such consultation as is required by the paragraph in question, of another person having the qualifications required by that paragraph, and a person so appointed shall hold office only until the expiry of that period.

(7)The Council shall meet—

(a)at intervals of not more than 12 months; and

(b)at any time when summoned by the chairman or by three members of the Council,

but shall, subject to the foregoing, have power to regulate the summoning of its meetings and the procedure at such meetings.

(8)At any meeting of the Council six members shall be a quorum.

(9)The functions of the Council shall be—

(a)to keep under general review the procedures and practices of the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in Scotland (including any matters incidental or relating to those procedures or practices); and

(b)to consider and comment on any draft Act of Adjournal submitted to it by the High Court, which shall, in making the Act of Adjournal, take account to such extent as it considers appropriate of any comments made by the Council under this paragraph.

(10)In the discharge of its functions under subsection (9) above the Council may invite representations on any aspect of the procedures and practices of the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction in Scotland (including any matters incidental or relating to those procedures or practices) and shall consider any such representations received by it, whether or not submitted in response to such an invitation.

305 Acts of Adjournal.S

(1)The High Court may by Act of Adjournal—

(a)regulate the practice and procedure in relation to criminal procedure;

(b)make such rules and regulations as may be necessary or expedient to carry out the purposes and accomplish the objects of any enactment (including an enactment in this Act) in so far as it relates to criminal procedure;

(c)subject to subsection (5) below, to fix and regulate the fees payable in connection with summary criminal proceedings; and

(d)to make provision for the application of sums paid under section 220 of this Act and for any matter incidental thereto.

(2)The High Court may by Act of Adjournal modify, amend or repeal any enactment (including an enactment in this Act) in so far as that enactment relates to matters with respect to which an Act of Adjournal may be made under subsection (1) above.

(3)No rule, regulation or provision which affects the governor or any other officer of a prison shall be made by Act of Adjournal except with the consent of the Secretary of State.

(4)The Clerk of Justiciary may, with the sanction of the Lord Justice General and the Lord Justice Clerk, vary the forms set out in an Act of Adjournal made under subsection (1) above or any other Act whether passed before or after this Act from time to time as may be found necessary for giving effect to the provisions of this Act relating to solemn procedure.

(5)Nothing in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above shall empower the High Court to make any regulation which the Secretary of State is empowered to make by the M1Courts of Law Fees (Scotland) Act 1895.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 305 modified (27.7.2001) by 2001 asp 7, s. 4, Sch. paras. 68, 77 (with Sch. para. 65); S.S.I. 2001/274, art. 3(1)(b)(c)(d)

C2S. 305 modified (27.7.2001) by 1993 c. 9, s. 10(2U) (as substituted by 2001 asp 7, s. 3(1)(b); S.S.I. 2001/274, art. 3(1)(a))

C3S. 305 modified (27.7.2001) by 2001 asp 7, s. 4, Sch. para. 21 (with Sch. para. 18); S.S.I. 2001/274, art. 3(1)(b)(c)

Marginal Citations

M158 & 59 Vict. c.14.

306 Information for financial and other purposes.S

(1)The Secretary of State shall in each year publish such information as he considers expedient for the purpose of—

(a)enabling persons engaged in the administration of criminal justice to become aware of the financial implications of their decisions; or

(b)facilitating the performance by such persons of their duty to avoid discriminating against any persons on the ground of race or sex or any other improper ground.

(2)Publication under subsection (1) above shall be effected in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the information to the attention of the persons concerned.

307 Interpretation.S

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

[F33(1A)The inclusion of officers of Revenue and Customs as “officers of law” shall not have effect in relation to any matter specified in—

(a)section 54(4)(b) or (f) of; or

(b)paragraphs 3, 7, 10, 13 to 15, 19 or 24 to 29 of Schedule 1 to,

the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (former Inland Revenue matters).

(1B)In any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) under or arising from this Act, a certificate of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs that an officer of Revenue and Customs had the authority to exercise a power or function conferred by a provision of this Act shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.]

(2)References in this Act to a court do not include references to a court-martial; and nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the punishment which may be awarded by a court-martial under the M14Naval Discipline Act 1957, the M15Army Act 1955 or the M16Air Force Act 1955 for a civil offence within the meaning of those Acts.

(3)For the purposes of this Act, except section 228(6), where a probation order has been made on appeal, the order shall be deemed to have been made by the court from which the appeal was brought.

(4)Any reference in this Act to a previous sentence of imprisonment shall be construed as including a reference to a previous sentence of penal servitude; any such reference to a previous sentence of Borstal training shall be construed as including a reference to a previous sentence of detention in a Borstal institution.

(5)Any reference in this Act to a previous conviction or sentence shall be construed as a reference to a previous conviction by a court in any part of the United Kingdom and to a previous sentence passed by any such court[F34 except—

(a)where the context otherwise requires; and

(b)in sections 69(2) and 166, where such a reference includes a reference to a previous conviction, by a court in another member State of the European Union, of an act punishable under the law in force in that State (an act so punishable being taken to constitute an offence under that law however described in that law)]

(6)References in this Act to an offence punishable with imprisonment shall be construed, in relation to any offender, without regard to any prohibition or restriction imposed by or under any enactment, including this Act, upon the imprisonment of offenders of his age.

(7)Without prejudice to section 46 of this Act, where the age of any person at any time is material for the purposes of any provision of this Act regulating the powers of a court, his age at the material time shall be deemed to be or to have been that which appears to the court, after considering any available evidence, to be or to have been his age at that time.

(8)References in this Act to findings of guilty and findings that an offence has been committed shall be construed as including references to pleas of guilty and admissions that an offence has been committed.

Textual Amendments

F2Definition of "child witness" in s. 307(1) inserted (2.7.2007 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.2008) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 1(2), 25; S.S.I. 2007/329, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2008/57, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F3Definition in s. 307(1) inserted (1.4.1999) by 1997 c. 48, s. 62(1), Sch. 1 para. 21(34)(a); S.I. 1999/652, art. 2, Sch. (subject to savings and transitional provisions in art. 3)

F5Definition in s. 307(1) inserted (20.5.1999) by 1998 c. 46, s. 125, Sch. 8 para. 32(3) (with s. 126-(3)-(11)); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 2(2), Sch. 4

F6Definition in s. 307(1) inserted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 95(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(s) (subject to arts. 5-8)

F7S. 307(1): words in the definition of "extract conviction" and "extract of previous conviction" added (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 57(5)(a), 89; S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, Sch.

F8S. 307(1): para. (aa) in definition of "hospital" inserted (1.8.1997) by 1997 c. 48, s. 62(1), Sch. 1 para. 21(34)(b); S.I. 1997/1712, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4, 5)

F9Words in s. 307(1) substituted (1.10.2001) by 2001 asp 8, s. 79, Sch. 3 para. 20; S.S.I. 2001/304, art. 2(1)(b)(d)

F10Definition in s. 307(1) inserted (1.1.1998) by 1997 c. 48, s. 6(5); S.I. 1997/2323, art. 4, Sch. 2 (subject to art. 7)

F12S. 307(1): definition of "interim compulsion order" inserted (5.10.2005) by Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 333(1), 333(2)-(4), Sch. 4 para. 8(16)(c); S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3

F13S. 307(1): definition of "justice of the peace" substituted (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 25(b); S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)

F14S. 307(1): definition of "local probation board" inserted (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 74, Sch. 7 para. 126; S.I. 2001/919, art. 2(f)(ii)

F15S. 307(1): definitions of "mental disorder" and "Mental Welfare Commission" inserted (5.10.2005) by Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 333(1), 333(2)-(4), Sch. 4 para. 8(16)(d); S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3

F16S. 307(1): paragraph (ba) in the definition of "officer of law" substituted (1.12.2007) by Finance Act 2007 (c. 11), s. 85, Sch. 23 paras. 9,14; S.I. 2007/3166, art. 3(b)

F17S. 307(1): words in the definition of "officer of law" inserted (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 76(11)(a), 89; S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, Sch.

F18S. 307(1): words in the definition of "officer of law" inserted (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 76(11)(b), 89; S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, Sch.

F19S. 307(1): words in the definition of "officer of law" added (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 76(11)(c), 89; S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, Sch.

F20S. 307(1): words in para. (e) of the definition of “officer of law”substituted (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 124(b); S.I. 1998/2327, arts. 2(1)(y)(2)(kk) (subject to arts. 5-8)

F21S. 307(1): definition of "order for lifelong restriction" inserted (19.6.2006 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 1(2), 89, Sch. 1 para. 2(7); S.S.I. 2006/332, art. 2(1) (subject to art. 2(2))

F22Words in s. 307(1) inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, s. 3(1), Sch. para. 104(7) (subject to art. 1(3))

F23S. 307(1): definition of "preliminary hearing" inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 57; S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F24S. 307(1): definition of "preliminary issue" inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 57; S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F25S. 307(1): definition of "preliminary plea" inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 57; S.S.I 2004/405, {art. 2(1)}, Sch. 1

F26S. 307(1): definition of "residential establishment" repealed (5.10.2005) by Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 331(2)(3), 333(2)-(4), Sch. 5 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3

F27S. 307(1): definition of "responsible medical officer" repealed (5.10.2005) by Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13), ss. 331(2)(3), 333(2)-(4), Sch. 5 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3

F28S. 307(1): definition of "risk assessment order" inserted (19.6.2006 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 1(2), 89, Sch. 1 para. 2(7); S.S.I. 2006/332, art. 2(1) (subject to art. 2(2))

F29S. 307(1): definition of "risk assessment report" inserted (19.6.2006 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 1(2), 89, Sch. 1 para. 2(7); S.S.I. 2006/332, art. 2(1) (subject to art. 2(2))

F31S. 307(1): definition of "the unified citation provisions" inserted (27.10.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 60(2), 89; S.S.I. 2003/475, art. 2, Sch.

F32Definition of "vulnerable witness" in s. 307(1) inserted (2.7.2007 for certain purposes and 1.4.2008) by Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 3), ss. 1(2), 25; S.S.I. 2007/329, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2008/57, art. 2 (with art. 3)

Marginal Citations

308 Construction of enactments referring to detention etc.S

In any enactment—

(a)any reference to a sentence of imprisonment as including a reference to a sentence of any other form of detention shall be construed as including a reference to a sentence of detention under section 207 of this Act; and

(b)any reference to imprisonment as including any other form of detention shall be construed as including a reference to detention under that section.

[F35308AExpressions relating to electronic proceedingsS

(1)In this Act, an “electronic complaint” is a complaint in electronic form which is capable of being—

(a)transmitted by means of electronic communication;

(b)kept in legible form.

(2)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

(3)The Scottish Ministers may by order modify the meaning of “electronic signature” provided for in subsection (2) above for the purpose of such provisions of this Act as are specified in the order.

(4)An order under subsection (3) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.]

Textual Amendments

F35S. 308A inserted (S.) (10.12.2007 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 41(2), 84; S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)

309 Short title, commencement and extent.U.K.

(1)This Act may be cited as the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

(2)This Act shall come into force on 1 April 1996.

(3)Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, this Act extends to Scotland only.

(4)The following provisions of this Act and this section extend to England and Wales—

  • section 44;

  • section 47;

  • section 209(3) and (7);

  • section 234(4) to (11);

  • section 244;

  • section 252 for the purposes of the construction mentioned in subsection (1) of that subsection;

  • section 303(4).

(5)The following provisions of this Act and this section extend to Northern Ireland—

  • section 44;

  • section 47;

  • section 244;

  • section 252 for the purposes of the construction mentioned in subsection (1) of that subsection;

  • section 303(4).

(6)Section 297(3) and (4) of this Act and this section also extend to the Isle of Man.