Office of Public Sector Information

Rule 32

SCHEDULE 6

“Part 70 Reference to the Court of Appeal of point of law or unduly lenient sentencing

When this Part applies

70.1  This Part applies where the Attorney General wants to—

(a) refer a point of law to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972(66); or

(b) refer a sentencing case to the Court of Appeal under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988(67).

[Note. Under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1972, where a defendant is acquitted in the Crown Court the Attorney General may refer to the Court of Appeal a point of law in the case.

Under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, if the Attorney General thinks the sentencing of a defendant in the Crown Court is unduly lenient he may refer the case to the Court of Appeal: but only if the sentence is one to which Part IV of the 1988 Act applies, and only if the Court of Appeal gives permission. See also section 35 of the 1988 Act(68) and the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Reviews of Sentencing) Order 2006(69).

The rules in Part 65 also apply where this Part applies.]

Service of notice of reference and application for permission

70.2—(1) The Attorney General must—

(a) serve on the Registrar—

(i) any notice of reference, and

(ii) any application for permission to refer a sentencing case; and

(b) with a notice of reference of a point of law, give the Registrar details of—

(i) the defendant affected,

(ii) the date and place of the relevant Crown Court decision, and

(iii) the relevant verdict and sentencing.

(2) The Attorney General must serve an application for permission to refer a sentencing case not more than 28 days after the last of the sentences in that case.

[Note. The time limit for serving an application for permission to refer a sentencing case is prescribed by paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It may be neither extended nor shortened.]

Form of notice of reference and application for permission

70.3—(1) A notice of reference and an application for permission to refer a sentencing case must be in the appropriate form set out in the Practice Direction, giving the year and number.

(2) A notice of reference of a point of law must—

(a) specify the point of law in issue and indicate the opinion that the Attorney General invites the court to give;

(b) identify each ground for that invitation, numbering them consecutively (if there is more than one) and concisely outlining each argument in support;

(c) exclude any reference to the defendant’s name and any other reference that may identify the defendant;

(d) summarise the relevant facts; and

(e) identify any relevant authorities.

(3) An application for permission to refer a sentencing case must—

(a) give details of—

(i) the defendant affected,

(ii) the date and place of the relevant Crown Court decision, and

(iii) the relevant verdict and sentencing;

(b) explain why that sentencing appears to the Attorney General unduly lenient, concisely outlining each argument in support; and

(c) include the application for permission to refer the case to the court.

(4) A notice of reference of a sentencing case must—

(a) include the same details and explanation as the application for permission to refer the case;

(b) summarise the relevant facts; and

(c) identify any relevant authorities.

(5) Where the court gives the Attorney General permission to refer a sentencing case, it may treat the application for permission as the notice of reference.

Registrar’s notice to defendant

70.4—(1) The Registrar must serve on the defendant—

(a) a notice of reference;

(b) an application for permission to refer a sentencing case.

(2) Where the Attorney General refers a point of law, the Registrar must give the defendant notice that—

(a) the outcome of the reference will not make any difference to the outcome of the trial; and

(b) the defendant may serve a respondent’s notice.

(3) Where the Attorney General applies for permission to refer a sentencing case, the Registrar must give the defendant notice that—

(a) the outcome of the reference may make a difference to that sentencing, and in particular may result in a more severe sentence; and

(b) the defendant may serve a respondent’s notice.

Respondent’s notice

70.5—(1) A defendant on whom the Registrar serves a reference or an application for permission to refer a sentencing case may serve a respondent’s notice, and must do so if—

(a) the defendant wants to make representations to the court; or

(b) the court so directs.

(2) Such a defendant must serve the respondent’s notice on—

(a) the Attorney General; and

(b) the Registrar.

(3) Such a defendant must serve the respondent’s notice—

(a) where the Attorney General refers a point of law, not more than 28 days after—

(i) the Registrar serves the reference, or

(ii) a direction to do so;

(b) where the Attorney General applies for permission to refer a sentencing case, not more than 14 days after—

(i) the Registrar serves the application, or

(ii) a direction to do so.

(4) Where the Attorney General refers a point of law, the respondent’s notice must—

(a) identify each ground of opposition on which the respondent relies, numbering them consecutively (if there is more than one), concisely outlining each argument in support and identifying the Attorney General’s ground or reason to which each relates;

(b) summarise any relevant facts not already summarised in the reference;

(c) identify any relevant authorities; and

(d) include or attach any application for the following, with reasons—

(i) an extension of time within which to serve the respondent’s notice,

(ii) permission to attend a hearing that the respondent does not have a right to attend,

(iii) a direction to attend in person a hearing that the respondent could attend by live link, if the respondent is in custody.

(5) Where the Attorney General applies for permission to refer a sentencing case, the respondent’s notice must—

(a) say if the respondent wants to make representations at the hearing of the application or reference; and

(b) include or attach any application for the following, with reasons—

(i) an extension of time within which to serve the respondent’s notice,

(ii) permission to attend a hearing that the respondent does not have a right to attend,

(iii) a direction to attend in person a hearing that the respondent could attend by live link, if the respondent is in custody.

Variation or withdrawal of notice of reference or application for permission

70.6—(1) This rule applies where the Attorney General wants to vary or withdraw—

(a) a notice of reference; or

(b) an application for permission to refer a sentencing case.

(2) The Attorney General—

(a) may vary or withdraw the notice or application without the court’s permission by serving notice on—

(i) the Registrar, and

(ii) the defendant

before any hearing of the reference or application; but

(b) at any such hearing, may only vary or withdraw that notice or application with the court’s permission.

Right to attend hearing

70.7—(1) A respondent who is in custody has a right to attend a hearing in public unless it is a hearing preliminary or incidental to a reference, including the hearing of an application for permission to refer a sentencing case.

(2) The court or the Registrar may direct that such a respondent is to attend a hearing by live link.

[Note. See rule 65.6 (hearings) and paragraphs 6 and 7 of Schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Under paragraph 8 of that Schedule the Court of Appeal may sentence in the absence of a defendant whose sentencing is referred.]

Anonymity of defendant on reference of point of law

70.8  Where the Attorney General refers a point of law, the court must not allow anyone to identify the defendant during the proceedings unless the defendant gives permission.”