Part III

Criminal justice system

Time limits etc.

Re-institution of stayed proceedings.
45
After section 22A of the 1985 Act there shall be inserted the following section—

Re-institution of proceedings stayed under section 22(4) or 22A(5).
22B
1
This section applies where proceedings for an offence (“the original proceedings”) are stayed by a court under section 22(4) or 22A(5) of this Act.
2
If—
a
in the case of proceedings conducted by the Director, the Director or a Chief Crown Prosecutor so directs;
b
in the case of proceedings conducted by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, that Director or those Commissioners so direct; or
c
in the case of proceedings not conducted as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above, a person designated for the purpose by the Secretary of State so directs,
fresh proceedings for the offence may be instituted within a period of three months (or such longer period as the court may allow) after the date on which the original proceedings were stayed by the court.
3
Fresh proceedings shall be instituted as follows—
a
where the original proceedings were stayed by the Crown Court, by preferring a bill of indictment;
b
where the original proceedings were stayed by a magistrates’ court, by laying an information.
4
Fresh proceedings may be instituted in accordance with subsections (2) and (3)(b) above notwithstanding anything in section 127(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (limitation of time).
5
Where fresh proceedings are instituted, anything done in relation to the original proceedings shall be treated as done in relation to the fresh proceedings if the court so directs or it was done—
a
by the prosecutor in compliance or purported compliance with section 3, 4, 7 or 9 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996; or
b
by the accused in compliance or purported compliance with section 5 or 6 of that Act.
6
Where a person is convicted of an offence in fresh proceedings under this section, the institution of those proceedings shall not be called into question in any appeal against that conviction.
1980 c.43.
1996 c.25.