The Criminal Procedure Rules 2015

Initial procedure on failure to comply with court order, etc.

48.9.—(1) This rule applies where—

(a) a party, or other person directly affected, alleges—

(i) in the Crown Court, a failure to comply with an order to which applies rule 33.70 (compliance order, restraint order or ancillary order), rule 47.13 (certain investigation orders under the Terrorism Act 2000(1)) or rule 47.22 (certain investigation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002(2)),

(ii) in the Court of Appeal or the Crown Court, any other conduct with which that court can deal as a civil contempt of court, or

(iii) in the Crown Court or a magistrates’ court, unauthorised use of disclosed prosecution material under section 17 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996(3);

(b) the court deals on its own initiative with conduct to which paragraph (1)(a) applies.

(2) Such a party or person must—

(a) apply in writing and serve the application on the court officer; and

(b) serve on the respondent—

(i) the application, and

(ii) notice of where and when the court will consider the allegation (not less than 14 days after service).

(3) The application must—

(a) identify the respondent;

(b) explain that it is an application for the respondent to be dealt with for contempt of court;

(c) contain such particulars of the conduct in question as to make clear what is alleged against the respondent; and

(d) include a notice warning the respondent that the court—

(i) can impose imprisonment, or a fine, or both, for contempt of court, and

(ii) may deal with the application in the respondent’s absence, if the respondent does not attend the hearing.

(4) A court which acts on its own initiative under paragraph (1)(b) must—

(a) arrange for the preparation of a written statement containing the same information as an application; and

(b) arrange for the service on the respondent of—

(i) that written statement, and

(ii) notice of where and when the court will consider the allegation (not less than 14 days after service).

[Note. The conduct to which this rule applies is sometimes described as ‘civil’ contempt of court.

By reason of section 45 of the Senior Courts Act 1981(4), the Crown Court has an inherent power to imprison (for a maximum of 2 years), or fine (to an unlimited amount), or both, a respondent for conduct in contempt of court by failing to comply with a court order or an undertaking given to the court.

Under section 18 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996(5)—

(a) the Crown Court can imprison (for a maximum of 2 years), or fine (to an unlimited amount), or both;

(b) a magistrates’ court can imprison (for a maximum of 6 months), or fine (to a maximum of £5,000), or both,

a person who uses disclosed prosecution material in contravention of section 17 of that Act. See also rule 15.8.

Under section 89 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, no respondent who is under 21 may be imprisoned for contempt of court. Under section 108 of that Act, a respondent who is at least 18 but under 21 may be detained if the court is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with him or her is appropriate. Under section 14(2A) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, a respondent who is under 17 may not be ordered to attend an attendance centre.

Under section 258 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, a respondent who is imprisoned for contempt of court must be released unconditionally after serving half the term.

The Practice Direction sets out a form of application for use in connection with this rule.

The rules in Part 4 require that an application under this rule must be served by handing it to the person accused of contempt of court unless the court otherwise directs.]

(1)

2000 c. 11.

(2)

2002 c. 29.

(3)

1996 c. 25; section 17 was amended by section 331 of, and paragraphs 20 and 33 of Schedule 36 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44).

(4)

1981 c. 54.

(5)

1996 c. 25.