Criminal Procedure Rules and Criminal Practice Directions

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The Criminal Procedure Rules first came into force in April 2005. Together with the Criminal Practice Directions, these rules govern the practice and procedure to be followed in all criminal courts including magistrates' courts, Crown Courts, Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and in extradition appeal cases before the High Court.

Since the rules first came into force they have been subject to numerous and significant amendments. They are usually amended twice a year, in April and October and a subject to a consolidation exercise every five years. The latest consolidation exercise took place on 5 October 2020 when the pre-existing 2015 version of the rules were revoked and replaced by the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 (CrimPR 2020), SI 2020/759.

For information on CrimPR 2020, SI 2020/759, see Practice Note: The Criminal Procedure Rules.

The CrimPR has been amended since October 2020 as follows:

  1. •

    Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, SI 2025/60, in force in part on 24 February 2025 and in full on 7 April 2025. See Practice Note: Criminal Procedure Rules (CrimPR)—updates February and April 2025

  2. •

    Criminal Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules

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This week's edition of Corporate Crime weekly highlights includes analysis of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 which will come into force on 6 October 2025, and of the wide-ranging powers contained in the National Security Act 2023 and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. Also included is news of the introduction of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill which places a legal duties on public officials aimed at preventing institutional concealment of facts following public disasters and scandals, of updated guidance for court users in England and Wales on judicial review in the Administrative Court, and of the Law Society’s call for urgent investment to support the Sentencing Bill reforms. All this, and more, in this week’s Corporate Crime highlights.

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