Office of Public Sector Information
(1) Schedule 9 amends the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37)—
(a) to make provision for the giving of youth conditional cautions to children and young persons, and
(b) to make minor amendments relating to reprimands and warnings under section 65 of that Act.
(2) The Secretary of State may by order amend the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37), as amended by Schedule 9, so as to vary the provision made by it for the giving of youth conditional cautions to children and young persons under the age of 16 (including doing so by adding or omitting any provision).
(1) Schedule 10 amends the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (c. 53) so as to provide for the protection of spent cautions.
(2) The provisions of Schedule 10 (and this section) extend only to England and Wales.
(1) Part 5 of the Police Act 1997 (c. 50) (certificates of criminal records) is amended as follows.
(2) In section 112 (criminal conviction certificates)—
(a) in the definition of “central records”, after “convictions” insert “and conditional cautions”;
(b) after that definition insert—
““conditional caution” means a caution given under section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) or section 66A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, other than one that is spent for the purposes of Schedule 2 to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.”
(3) In section 113A(6) (criminal record certificates)—
(a) in the definition of “exempted question”, after “a question” insert “which—
“(a) so far as it applies to convictions, is a question”;
(b) in that definition, at the end insert “; and—
“(b) so far as it applies to cautions, is a question to which paragraph 3(3) or (4) of Schedule 2 to that Act has been excluded by an order of the Secretary of State under paragraph 4 of that Schedule;”;
(c) in the definition of “relevant matter”, after “caution” insert “, including a caution that is spent for the purposes of Schedule 2 to that Act”.
(4) This section extends to England and Wales only.
Schedule 11 makes provision in connection with the electronic monitoring of persons released on bail subject to conditions.
Schedule 12—
(a) imposes a duty on a magistrates' court considering whether to withhold or grant bail in relation to a person under 18 accused of an offence mentioned in Schedule 2 to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43) (offences for which the value involved is relevant to the mode of trial) to consider the value involved in the offence; and
(b) amends Schedule 1 to the Bail Act 1976 (persons entitled to bail: supplementary provisions).
Schedule 13 amends Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) (which makes provision in relation to the allocation and other treatment of offences triable either way, and the sending of cases to the Crown Court).
(1) Section 11 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (non-appearance of accused) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for “the court may proceed in his absence” substitute “—
(a) if the accused is under 18 years of age, the court may proceed in his absence; and
(b) if the accused has attained the age of 18 years, the court shall proceed in his absence unless it appears to the court to be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.
This is subject to subsections (2), (2A), (3) and (4).”
(3) After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A) The court shall not proceed in the absence of the accused if it considers that there is an acceptable reason for his failure to appear.”
(4) In each of subsections (3) and (4), for “A magistrates' court” substitute “In proceedings to which this subsection applies, the court.”
(5) After subsection (3) insert—
“(3A) But where a sentence or order of a kind mentioned in subsection (3) is imposed or given in the absence of the offender, the offender must be brought before the court before being taken to a prison or other institution to begin serving his sentence (and the sentence or order is not to be regarded as taking effect until he is brought before the court).”
(6) After subsection (4) insert—
“(5) Subsections (3) and (4) apply to—
(a) proceedings instituted by an information, where a summons has been issued; and
(b) proceedings instituted by a written charge.
(6) Nothing in this section requires the court to enquire into the reasons for the accused’s failure to appear before deciding whether to proceed in his absence.
(7) The court shall state in open court its reasons for not proceeding under this section in the absence of an accused who has attained the age of 18 years; and the court shall cause those reasons to be entered in its register of proceedings.”
(7) Section 13(5) of that Act (non-appearance of accused: issue of warrant) ceases to have effect.
(1) Section 7A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (c. 23) (powers of non-legal staff) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2) (powers of designated non-legal staff)—
(a) in paragraph (a)(ii), after “trials” insert “of offences triable either way or offences which are punishable with imprisonment in the case of persons aged 21 or over”;
(b) after paragraph (a)(ii) insert—
“(iii) the conduct of applications or other proceedings relating to preventative civil orders;
(iv) the conduct of proceedings (other than criminal proceedings) in, or in connection with, the discharge of functions assigned to the Director under section 3(2)(g) above.”;
(c) for paragraph (b) substitute—
“(b) any powers of a Crown Prosecutor that do not involve the exercise of such rights of audience as are mentioned in paragraph (a) above but are exercisable in relation to the conduct of—
(i) criminal proceedings in magistrates' courts, or
(ii) applications or proceedings falling within paragraph (a)(iii) or (iv).”
(3) For subsection (5) (interpretation) substitute—
“(5) In this section—
“bail in criminal proceedings” has the same meaning as in the Bail Act 1976 (see section 1 of that Act);
“preventative civil orders” means—
orders within section 3(2)(fa) to (fe) above;
orders under section 5 or 5A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (restraining orders); or
orders under section 8 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (parenting orders).
(5A) For the purposes of this section a trial begins with the opening of the prosecution case after the entry of a plea of not guilty and ends with the conviction or acquittal of the accused.”
(4) Omit subsection (6) (powers not applicable to offences triable only on indictment etc.).
(5) After subsection (7) insert—
“(8) As from 1 May 2011 nothing in this section confers on persons designated under this section—
(a) any rights of audience, or
(b) any right to conduct litigation,
for the purposes of Part 3 of the Legal Services Act 2007 (reserved legal activities).
(9) As from that date the following provisions of that Act accordingly do not apply to persons designated under this section—
(a) paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 3 (exemption for persons with statutory rights of audience), and
(b) paragraph 2(3) of that Schedule (exemption for persons with statutory right to conduct litigation).
(10) The Attorney General may by order make such modifications in the application of any enactment (including this section) in relation to persons designated under this section as the Attorney General considers appropriate in consequence of, or in connection with, the matters provided for by subsections (8) and (9).
(11) The Attorney General may also by order amend subsection (2)(a)(ii) so as to omit the words “or offences which are punishable with imprisonment in the case of persons aged 21 or over”.
(12) The power to make an order under subsection (10) or (11) is exercisable by statutory instrument, but a statutory instrument containing such an order may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”
(6) In section 15 of that Act (interpretation of Part 1) in subsection (4) (provisions for the purposes of which binding over proceedings are to be taken to be criminal proceedings) for “and 7(1)” substitute “, 7(1) and 7A”.
(1) Part 1 of the Access to Justice Act 1999 (c. 22) is amended as follows.
(2) In section 14(1) (representation)—
(a) after “criminal proceedings” insert “and about the provisional grant of a right to representation in prescribed circumstances”;
(b) after “granted” insert “, or provisionally granted,”.
(3) In section 15(1) (selection of representative) after “granted” insert “, or provisionally granted,”.
(4) In section 25(9) (orders, regulations and directions subject to affirmative resolution procedure) for “paragraph 2A” substitute “paragraph 1A, 2A,”.
(5) In section 26 (interpretation) after the definition of “representation” insert—
“and, for the purposes of the definition of “representation”, “proceedings” includes, in the context of a provisional grant of a right to representation, proceedings that may result from the investigation concerned.”
(6) After paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 (individuals to whom right may be granted) insert—
1A (1) Regulations may provide that, in prescribed circumstances, and subject to any prescribed conditions, a right to representation may be provisionally granted to an individual where—
(a) the individual is involved in an investigation which may result in criminal proceedings, and
(b) the right is so granted for the purposes of criminal proceedings that may result from the investigation.
(2) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) may, in particular, make provision about—
(a) the stage in an investigation at which a right to representation may be provisionally granted;
(b) the circumstances in which a right which has been so granted—
(i) is to become, or be treated as if it were, a right to representation under paragraph 1, or
(ii) is to be, or may be, withdrawn.”
(7) In paragraph 2A of Schedule 3 (grant of right by Commission) at the end of sub-paragraph (1)(b) insert—
“(c) provide that any provisional grant of a right to representation, or any withdrawal of a right so granted, in accordance with regulations under paragraph 1A is to be made by the Commission.”
(8) In paragraph 3A(1) of Schedule 3 (form of the grant of a right to representation) after “grant” insert “, or provisional grant,”.
(9) In paragraph 3B of Schedule 3 (financial eligibility)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (1)—
(i) after “grant” insert “, or provisionally grant,”,
(ii) after “granted” insert “, or provisionally granted,”;
(b) in sub-paragraph (2)(a), after “granted” insert “, or provisionally granted,”.
(10) In paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 (appeals) at the end insert—
“This paragraph does not apply in relation to any right to representation granted in accordance with paragraph 1A.”
(11) In paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 (criteria for grant of right)—
(a) in sub-paragraph (1), after “grant” insert “, or provisionally grant,”;
(b) after sub-paragraph (2) insert—
“(2A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2), “proceedings” includes, in the context of a provisional grant of a right to representation, proceedings that may result from the investigation in which the individual is involved.”;
(c) in sub-paragraph (4), after “grant” insert “, or provisional grant,”.
(1) The Access to Justice Act 1999 (c. 22) is amended as follows.
(2) In section 25(9) (orders, regulations and directions subject to affirmative resolution procedure), for “or 4” substitute “4 or 6”.
(3) In Schedule 3 (criminal defence service: right to representation), after paragraph 5 insert—
6 (1) The relevant authority may make an information request to—
(a) the Secretary of State, or
(b) the Commissioners,
for the purpose of facilitating the making of a decision by the authority about the application of paragraph 3B(1) or (2), or regulations under paragraph 3B(3), in relation to an individual.
(2) An information request made to the Secretary of State is a request for the disclosure of some or all of the following information—
(a) the individual’s full name;
(b) the individual’s address;
(c) the individual’s date of birth;
(d) the individual’s national insurance number;
(e) the individual’s benefit status;
(f) information of any description specified in regulations.
(3) An information request made to the Commissioners is a request for the disclosure of some or all of the following information—
(a) whether or not the individual is employed;
(b) the name and address of the employer (if the individual is employed);
(c) the individual’s national insurance number;
(d) information of any description specified in regulations made with the agreement of the Commissioners.
(4) The information that may be specified under subsection (3)(d) includes, in particular, information relating to the individual’s income (as defined in the regulations) for a period so specified.
(5) On receiving an information request, the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Commissioners may disclose the information requested to the relevant authority.
7 (1) A person to whom information is disclosed under paragraph 6(5), or this sub-paragraph, may disclose the information to any person to whom its disclosure is necessary or expedient in connection with facilitating the making of a decision by the relevant authority about the application of paragraph 3B(1) or (2), or regulations under paragraph 3B(3), in relation to an individual.
(2) A person to whom such information is disclosed commits an offence if the person—
(a) discloses or uses the information, and
(b) the disclosure is not authorised by sub-paragraph (1) or (as the case may be) the use is not for the purpose of facilitating the making of such a decision as is mentioned in that sub-paragraph.
(3) But it is not an offence under sub-paragraph (2)—
(a) to disclose any information in accordance with any enactment or order of a court or for the purposes of any proceedings before a court; or
(b) to disclose any information which has previously been lawfully disclosed to the public.
(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under sub-paragraph (2) to prove that the person reasonably believed that the disclosure or use was lawful.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (2) is liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine or both;
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.
(6) In sub-paragraph (5)(b) the reference to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
(7) Nothing in section 20 applies in relation to the disclosure of information to which sub-paragraph (1) applies.
8 (1) This paragraph applies for the purposes of paragraphs 6 and 7.
(2) “Benefit status”, in relation to an individual, means whether or not the individual is in direct or indirect receipt of any prescribed benefit or benefits and, if so (in the case of each benefit)—
(a) which benefit the individual is so receiving, and
(b) (in prescribed cases) the amount the individual is so receiving by way of the benefit.
(3) “The Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
(4) “Information” means information held in any form.
(5) Nothing in paragraph 6 or 7 authorises the making of a disclosure which contravenes the Data Protection Act 1998.”
(1) The Access to Justice Act 1999 (c. 22) is amended as follows.
(2) In section 17A (contribution orders) omit subsection (5) (piloting of regulations).
(3) After section 18 insert—
(1) This section applies to the following instruments—
(a) any order under section 14 or paragraph 5 of Schedule 3,
(b) any regulations under section 12, 13, 15, 17 or 17A or any of paragraphs 1A to 5 of Schedule 3, and
(c) any regulations under section 22(5) having effect in relation to the Criminal Defence Service.
(2) Any instrument to which this section applies may be made so as to have effect for a specified period not exceeding 12 months.
(3) But if the Lord Chancellor thinks that it is necessary or expedient for either of the purposes in subsection (4), the period specified in the instrument—
(a) may in the first instance be a period not exceeding 18 months;
(b) may be varied so as to become a period not exceeding 18 months.
(4) The purposes are—
(a) ensuring the effective operation of the instrument;
(b) co-ordinating the operation of the instrument with the operation of any other provision made under an enactment relating to any aspect of the criminal justice system.
(5) The period for the time being specified in an instrument to which this section applies may also be varied so that the instrument has effect for such further period as the Lord Chancellor thinks necessary for the purpose of securing that it remains in operation until the coming into force of any order or regulations made under the same provision of this Act that will have effect—
(a) generally, or
(b) for purposes wider than those for which the instrument has effect.
(6) In the following provisions of this section “pilot scheme” means any instrument which, in accordance with subsections (2) to (5), is to have effect for a limited period.
(7) A pilot scheme may provide that its provisions are to apply only in relation to—
(a) one or more specified areas or localities;
(b) one or more specified descriptions of court;
(c) one or more specified offences or descriptions of offence;
(d) one or more specified classes of person;
(e) persons selected—
(i) by reference to specified criteria; or
(ii) on a sampling basis.
(8) A pilot scheme may make consequential or transitional provision with respect to the cessation of the scheme on the expiry of the specified period (or that period as varied under subsection (3)(b) or (5)).
(9) A pilot scheme may be replaced by a further pilot scheme making the same or similar provision.”
(4) In section 25 (regulations, orders and directions) after subsection (9A) insert—
“(9B) No order or regulations which, by virtue of section 18A, is or are to have effect for a limited period shall be made unless a draft of the order or regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”
(1) The Criminal Justice Act 1987 (c. 38) is amended as follows.
(2) After section 2 insert—
(1) The powers of the Director under section 2 are also exercisable for the purpose of enabling him to determine whether to start an investigation under section 1 in a case where it appears to him that conduct to which this section applies may have taken place.
(2) But—
(a) the power under subsection (2) of section 2 is so exercisable only if it appears to the Director that for the purpose of enabling him to make that determination it is expedient to require any person appearing to him to have relevant information to do as mentioned in that subsection, and
(b) the power under subsection (3) of that section is so exercisable only if it appears to the Director that for that purpose it is expedient to require any person to do as mentioned in that subsection.
(3) Accordingly, where the powers of the Director under section 2 are exercisable in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) above—
(a) the reference in subsection (2) of that section to the person under investigation or any other person whom the Director has reason to believe has relevant information is to be read as a reference to any such person as is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above,
(b) the reference in subsection (3) of that section to the person under investigation or any other person is to be read as a reference to any such person as is mentioned in subsection (2)(b) above, and
(c) any reference in subsection (2), (3) or (4) of that section to the investigation is to be read as a reference to the making of any such determination as is mentioned in subsection (1) above.
(4) Any reference in section 2(16) to the carrying out of an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into serious or complex fraud includes a reference to the making of any such determination as is mentioned in subsection (1) above.
(5) This section applies to any conduct which, as a result of section 108 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (bribery and corruption: foreign officers etc), constitutes a corruption offence (wherever committed).
(6) The following are corruption offences for the purposes of this section—
(a) any common law offence of bribery;
(b) the offences under section 1 of the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 (corruption in office); and
(c) the offences under section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 (corrupt transactions with agents).”
(3) In section 17 (extent)—
(a) in subsection (2) (provisions of Act extending to Scotland), for “section 2” substitute “sections 2 and 2A”; and
(b) in subsection (3) (provisions of Act extending to Northern Ireland), after “sections 2” insert “, 2A”.
(1) In section 6A(1) of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (c. 25) (contents of defence statement), after “prosecution,” in paragraph (c) insert—
“(ca) setting out particulars of the matters of fact on which he intends to rely for the purposes of his defence,”.
(2) In section 11(2)(f)(ii) of that Act (faults in disclosure by accused), after “matter” insert “(or any particular of any matter of fact)”.
(1) The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33) has effect subject to the following amendments.
(2) Section 133 (compensation for miscarriages of justice) is amended as follows.
(3) At the end of subsection (2) (compensation only payable if application for compensation is made) insert “before the end of the period of 2 years beginning with the date on which the conviction of the person concerned is reversed or he is pardoned.
(2A) But the Secretary of State may direct that an application for compensation made after the end of that period is to be treated as if it had been made within that period if the Secretary of State considers that there are exceptional circumstances which justify doing so.”
(4) For subsection (4A) substitute—
“(4A) Section 133A applies in relation to the assessment of the amount of the compensation.”
(5) After subsection (5) (meaning of “reversed” in relation to a conviction) insert—
“(5A) But in a case where—
(a) a person’s conviction for an offence is quashed on an appeal out of time, and
(b) the person is to be subject to a retrial,
the conviction is not to be treated for the purposes of this section as “reversed” unless and until the person is acquitted of all offences at the retrial or the prosecution indicates that it has decided not to proceed with the retrial.
(5B) In subsection (5A) above any reference to a retrial includes a reference to proceedings held following the remission of a matter to a magistrates' court by the Crown Court under section 48(2)(b) of the Supreme Court Act 1981.”
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008