The Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limits) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Made4th September 2020

Laid before Parliament7th September 2020

Coming into force28th September 2020

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 22(1) and (2) and 29(2) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 M1.

Annotations:

Marginal Citations

1985 c. 23; section 22(2) was amended by section 43(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37). Section 29(2) was amended by Schedule 7, Part 1, paragraph 8(3) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10).

Citation, commencement, expiry and interpretationI11

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limits) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and come into force on 28th September 2020.

2

Subject to regulation 3(2), these Regulations cease to have effect on 28th June 2021.

3

In these Regulations, “the 1987 Regulations” means the Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limits) Regulations 1987 M2.

F1Exclusion of accused persons under 18 years of age1A

These Regulations do not apply to an accused subject to a custody time limit provided in regulation 5 (custody time limits in the Crown Court) of the 1987 Regulations who is under 18 years of age when in custody for the first time in relation to an offence.

Amendment of the 1987 RegulationsI22

Regulation 5 (custody time limits in the Crown Court) of the 1987 Regulations is amended as follows—

a

in paragraph (3), for “112 days” substitute “ 168 days ”;

b

in paragraph (6B), for “182 days” substitute “ 238 days ”.

Transitional and saving provisionsI33

1

These Regulations do not apply to an accused who is in custody in relation to an offence and subject to a custody time limit provided in regulation 5 of the 1987 Regulations before the coming into force of these Regulations.

2

F2Subject to regulation 1A (exclusion of accused persons under 18 years of age), the amendments made by these Regulations to the 1987 Regulations continue to have effect in relation to an accused who is in custody for the first time in relation to an offence, on or after the coming into force of these Regulations but before the date in regulation 1(2), where the applicable time limit in regulation 5 of the 1987 Regulations expires on or after the date in regulation 1(2).

Robert Buckland Lord Chancellor Ministry of Justice

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limits) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/299) (“the 1987 Regulations”) to provide for an increase in custody time limits in relation to those awaiting trial in the Crown Court. The amendments are in response to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in relation to jury trials.

Regulation 2 amends the custody time limits provided by regulation 5 of the 1987 Regulations in respect of those awaiting trial in the Crown Court.

Regulation 3(1) disapplies the amendments made by regulation 2 in respect of those in custody and subject to a custody time limit provided in regulation 5 of the 1987 Regulations prior to the commencement of these Regulations. In addition, regulation 3(2) provides for the new time limits in regulation 2 to continue to apply where an accused is in custody for the first time following the commencement of these Regulations but before the expiry of the Regulations, where the applicable time limit expires after these Regulations cease to have effect.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.