Blackstone's Guide to the Criminal Procedure Rules: (Blackstone's Guides)

The Blackstone's Guide Series delivers concise and accessible books covering the latest legislative changes and amendments. Published soon after enactment, they offer expert commentary by leading names on the scope, extent and effects of the legislation, plus a full copy of the Act itself. They offer a cost-effective solution to key information needs and are the perfect companion for any practitioner needing to get up to speed with the latest changes. The Criminal Procedure Rules govern all aspects of criminal procedure in all criminal courts. The Rules were designed to bring about a cultural change and all those involved in the criminal justice system are affected by the new regime. While many practitioners initially thought that they would have little impact upon the criminal courts, they have become an essential litigation framework. They consolidate all procedural rules with new provisions aimed at increasing efficiency and improving case management. Amendments to the rules made since their introduction render them a cradle to grave pathway that practitioners must follow, codifying rules previously contained in hundreds of different documents. The new edition of this Guide provides a full, clear analysis of the Rules, and places them in context, tracking the development of the rules since their introduction in 2005. Following the structure of the Rules, and including checklists of time limits and key tasks to be performed, the Blackstone's Guide to the Criminal Procedure Rules is an essential purchase for criminal practitioners, magistrates, and judges. The Guide contains the full updated Criminal Procedure Rules 2010, and the Consolidated Criminal Practice Direction, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of relevant procedural materials.

Table of Contents:
1: The Overriding Objective and Understanding and Applying the Rules Introduction Part 1 - The Overriding Objective The duty of the participants in a criminal case The application by the court of the overriding objective Part 2 - Understanding and applying the Rules 2: Case Management Introduction Rules 3.2 and 3.3 - the duties of the court and the parties Rule 3.4 - case progression officers and their duties Rules 3.5 to 3.7 - the case management powers of the court and directions Rules 3.8 to 3.10 - case preparation, readiness for trial and the conduct of a trial or appeal Rule 3.11 case management forms and records 3: Service, Forms, and Records Introduction Service of documents Forms Court Records 4: Preliminary Proceedings in the magistrates' court Introduction Commencing proceedings Objecting to the discontinuance of proceedings Pre-trial hearings in the magistrates' courts 5: Transfers to the Crown Court and Preliminary Crown Court Procedure Introduction Section 6 committals Transfers for trial in cases of serious fraud or involving child witnesses Sending for trial Automatic directions Dismissal of charges sent to the Crown Court Indictments Preparatory hearings in serious fraud and complex/lengthy cases Plea and case management hearings 6: Reporting Restrictions and Extradition Introduction Reporting restrictions and public access Extradition 7: Warrants, Custody, and Bail Introduction Warrants of arrest, detention, or imprisonment Bail Custody time limits 8: Disclosure Introduction Initial details of the prosecution case Disclosure by the prosecution and the defence 9: Witnesses and Restrictions on Cross-Examination of an Unrepresented Defendant Introduction Witness statements Witness summonses Special measures Defendant's evidence directions Witness anonymity orders Live television links Restrictions on cross-examination by the defendant in person 10: International Cooperation Introduction Notice to accompany process Hearings 11: Hearsay and Expert Evidence Introduction Expert evidence Service of expert evidence The court's role in relation to expert evidence Hearsay evidence The rules for hearsay applications 12: Evidence of Bad Character and Relating to a Complainant's Sexual Behaviour Introduction Bad Character Evidence The Rules Compliance with the Rules Restrictions on Cross-Examination on Previous Sexual History 13: Trial and Sentence in a Magistrates' Court Introduction General Trial Guilty pleas Sentence Miscellaneous 14: Trial on Indictment, Tainted Acquittals and Retrial Following Acquittal for a Serious Offence Introduction Part 39 - trial on indictment Part 40 - tainted acquittals Part 41 - retrial following acquittal for serious offence 15: Sentencing Introduction Part 42- sentencing procedure in special cases Part 44 - breach, revocation and amendment of community and other orders Part 50- civil behaviour orders after conviction or finding Part 52- enforcement of fines Part 55 - road traffic penalties 16: Confiscation Introduction Confiscation under the Criminal Justice 1988 and the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 Rules applicable for all proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Rules applicable to confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Restraint proceedings Receivership 17: Contempt of Court Introduction Scope of the part Rules relating to evidence 18: Appeals Introduction Part 63 - appeal to the Crown Court against conviction or sentence Appeal to the High Court by way of case stated Appeal to the Court of Appeal: general rules Appeal to the Court of Appeal against ruling at preparatory hearing Appeal to the Court of Appeal against ruling adverse to the prosecution Part 68 - Appeal to the Court of Appeal about conviction or sentence Appeal to the Court of Appeal against order restricting reporting or public access Part 70 - Reference to the Court of Appeal of point of law or unduly lenient sentencing Part 71 - Appeal to the Court of Appeal under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 - general rules Part 72 - Appeal to the Court of Appeal under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 - prosecutor's appeal regarding confiscation Part 73 - Appeal to the Court of Appeal under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 - restraint or receivership orders Part 74 - Appeal or reference to the Supreme Court Part 75 - Request to the European Court for a preliminary ruling 19: Costs Introduction General Costs out of central funds Payment of costs by one party to another Other costs orders Assessment of costs Appendix 1 - The Criminal Procedure Rules 2010 (SI 2010 No. 60), as amended by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2010 (SI 2010 No. 1921) Appendix 2 - The Consolidated Criminal Practice Direction Appendix 3 - Control and Management of Heavy Fraud and Other Complex Criminal Cases

About the Author :
Duncan Atkinson and Tim Moloney QC are both established criminal law barristers, practising from 6 King's Bench Walk and Tooks Chambers respectively. They were both members of the Criminal Bar Assocation Working Party on the Criminal Procedure Rules, and are contributors to Blackstone's Criminal Practice.

Review :
a comprehensive and indispensivle guide, [providing] a full, clear analysis of the rules