The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has published a Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026, SI 2026/47. The Guide has been updated to reflect SI 2026/47, which amends the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 and comes into force on 6 April 2026, with certain corrective provisions taking effect on 23 February 2026.

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has published a Guide to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, SI 2025/909, which come into force on 6 October 2025. The Guide provides an in depth description of SI 2025/909, which replaces the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 and its consequential amendments.

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has updated two existing criminal court forms and introduced a new application form for emotional support animals in criminal proceedings. The updates affect the Application for Special Measures Direction (CrimPR 18.4, 18.10) and the Directions for Commissioning Medical Reports for Sentencing Purposes (CrimPR 28.8). The new form allows for applications for emotional support animals during criminal hearings under Part 18 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 (SI 2020/759), which covers measures to assist witnesses or defendants in giving evidence or participating in proceedings. All forms apply to cases in England and Wales.

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has published a Guide to the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026, SI 2026/721. The Guide outlines the amendments made to the Criminal Procedure Rules, the majority of which come into force on 5 October 2026, with certain provisions coming into force on the date on which the legislation they supplement enters into force.

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) and the Ministry of Justice have updated the form and published confidential information supplement for an application for a special measures direction under CrimPR 18.4, 18.10.

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) and the Ministry of Justice have updated the form for a notice of application for a production order under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984).

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) and the Ministry of Justice have updated the forms for notice of application for an account monitoring order, a customer information order, a disclosure order and a production order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002).

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) and Ministry of Justice have updated three forms under its guidance relating to Part 47 of the Criminal Procedure Rules and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002). The 'Notice of application for a POCA production order', 'Application for a search warrant under POCA 2002' and 'Application for a production order and order to grant entry under POCA' have all been updated.

The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) has announced that it will hold its annual open meeting on 8 May 2026 in a hybrid format, with in-person attendance at a venue in central Birmingham and online via Microsoft Teams. Guests will attend as observers only, subject to space availability. Pre‑submitted questions will be addressed at the end of the session. Applications to attend must be submitted by 8 April 2026. The CPRC has indicated that the meeting agenda will be confirmed closer to the date.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that Adrian Bailyes has been sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to 18 months’ imprisonment (which was suspended for one year), and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Bailyes has repaid the money in full. The sentencing follows Bailyes committing fraud by claiming to be the Finance Director for Global Storage Solutions Ltd and was receiving the funds as part of a business transaction paying for oil tank storage, despite Bailyes being disqualified from holding a position as a company director or being involved in the management of a company due to him being declared bankrupt in 2013. Bailyes ‘conned a businessman’ in to paying £50,000 into a bank account which he had control of and redistributed the money in the space of month, rather than using it for the tank storage costs.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that it has obtained an unexplained wealth order (UWO) and interim freezing order (IFO) in relation to a London property portfolio worth more than £81 million, comprising flats across central and south London. The orders were granted against a Chinese national and associated UK companies suspected of using illicitly obtained funds to acquire the properties, which have been frozen pending an ongoing civil recovery investigation into whether they represent the proceeds of unlawful conduct. Under the UWO, the respondents have three months to demonstrate that the funds used to acquire the properties were obtained lawfully, failing which they risk the assets being seized through civil recovery proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA 2002). The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division is leading the investigation, with support from the Metropolitan Police Service.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced the prosecution of an accountant for defrauding multiple coronavirus (Covid-19) support schemes. Zeeshan Ashraf has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. Ashraf fraudulently claimed £268,102.07 and attempted to claim an additional £52,732.66 from various pandemic support initiatives, including the 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme, from which he swindled £26,928. The CPS emphasised its commitment to pursuing fraudsters who exploit government support grants and loans, and will seek to recover the remaining fraudulent gains to return them to the public purse.