Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
1994 c. 33
An Act to make further provision in relation to criminal justice (including employment in the prison service); to amend or extend the criminal law and powers for preventing crime and enforcing that law; to amend the Video Recordings Act 1984; and for purposes connected with those purposes.
[3rd November 1994]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
(1) Section 43 of the Prison Act 1952 (which enables certain institutions for young offenders to be provided and applies provisions of the Act to them) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after paragraph (c), there shall be inserted the following paragraph, preceded by the word “and”—
(d) secure training centres, that is to say places in which offenders not less than 12 but under 17 years of age in respect of whom secure training orders have been made under section 1 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 may be detained and given training and education and prepared for their release
.
(3) After subsection (4), there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(4A) Sections 16, 22 and 36 of this Act shall apply to secure training centres and to persons detained in them as they apply to prisons and prisoners.
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(4) In subsection (5), for the words “such centres” there shall be substituted the words “ centres of the descriptions specified in subsection (4) above ”.
(5) After subsection (5), there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(5A) The other provisions of this Act preceding this section, except sections 5, 5A, 6(2) and (3), 12, 14, 19, 25, 28 and 37(2) and (3) above, shall apply to secure training centres and to persons detained in them as they apply to prisons and prisoners, but subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in rules made by the Secretary of State.
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(1) Section 47 of the Prison Act 1952 (rules for the regulation and management of prisons and certain institutions for young offenders) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for the words between “remand centres” and “respectively”, there shall be substituted the words “ , young offender institutions or secure training centres ”.
(3) After subsection (4), there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(4A) Rules made under this section shall provide for the inspection of secure training centres and the appointment of independent persons to visit secure training centres and to whom representations may be made by offenders detained in secure training centres.
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(4) In subsection (5), for the words between “remand centre” and “not” there shall be substituted the words “ , young offender institution or secure training centre ”.
(1) The Secretary of State may enter into a contract with another person for the provision or running (or the provision and running) by him, or (if the contract so provides) for the running by sub-contractors of his, of any secure training centre or part of a secure training centre.
(2) While a contract for the running of a secure training centre or part of a secure training centre is in force the centre or part shall be run subject to and in accordance with the Prison Act 1952 and in accordance with secure training centre rules subject to such adaptations and modifications as the Secretary of State may specify in relation to contracted out secure training centres.
(3) Where the Secretary of State grants a lease or tenancy of land for the purposes of any contract under this section, none of the following enactments shall apply to it, namely—
(a) Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (security of tenure);
(b) section 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (restrictions on and relief against forfeiture); and
(c) section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1988 (covenants not to assign etc.).
In this subsection “lease or tenancy” includes an underlease or sub-tenancy.
(4) In this section—
(a) the reference to the Prison Act 1952 is a reference to that Act as it applies to secure training centres by virtue of section 43 of that Act; and
(b) the reference to secure training centre rules is a reference to rules made under section 47 of that Act for the regulation and management of secure training centres.
8 Officers of contracted out secure training centres.
(1) Instead of a governor, every contracted out secure training centre shall have—
(a) a director, who shall be a custody officer appointed by the contractor and specially approved for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State; and
(b) a monitor, who shall be a Crown servant appointed by the Secretary of State;
and every officer of such a secure training centre who performs custodial duties shall be a custody officer who is authorised to perform such duties or an officer of a directly managed secure training centre who is temporarily attached to the secure training centre.
(2) The director shall have such functions as are conferred on him by the Prison Act 1952 as it applies to secure training centres and as may be conferred on him by secure training centre rules.
(3) The monitor shall have such functions as may be conferred on him by secure training centre rules and shall be under a duty—
(a) to keep under review, and report to the Secretary of State on, the running of the secure training centre by or on behalf of the director; and
(b) to investigate, and report to the Secretary of State on, any allegations made against custody officers performing custodial duties at the secure training centre or officers of directly managed secure training centres who are temporarily attached to the secure training centre.
(4) The contractor and any sub-contractor of his shall each be under a duty to do all that he reasonably can (whether by giving directions to the officers of the secure training centre or otherwise) to facilitate the exercise by the monitor of all such functions as are mentioned in or imposed by subsection (3) above.
9 Powers and duties of custody officers employed at contracted out secure training centres.
(1) A custody officer performing custodial duties at a contracted out secure training centre shall have the following powers, namely—
(a) to search in accordance with secure training centre rules any person who is detained in the secure training centre; and
(b) to search in accordance with secure training centre rules any other person who is in or who is seeking to enter the secure training centre, and any article in the possession of such a person.
(2) The powers conferred by subsection (1)(b) above to search a person shall not be construed as authorising a custody officer to require a person to submit to an intimate search (within the meaning of section 164(5) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979).
(3) A custody officer performing custodial duties at a contracted out secure training centre shall have the following duties as respects persons detained in the secure training centre, namely—
(a) to prevent their escape from lawful custody;
(b) to prevent, or detect and report on, the commission or attempted commission by them of other unlawful acts;
(c) to ensure good order and discipline on their part; and
(d) to attend to their wellbeing.
(4) The powers conferred by subsection (1) above, and the powers arising by virtue of subsection (3) above, shall include power to use reasonable force where necessary.
9A Power of custody officers to detain suspected offenders
(1) A custody officer performing custodial duties at a contracted out secure training centre shall have the following powers in relation to any person who is in or is seeking to enter the centre (other than a person detained in the centre).
(2) Where the officer has reason to believe that the person is committing or has committed an offence under any of sections 39 to 40D of the Prison Act 1952, the officer may—
(a) require the person to wait with him for the arrival of a constable for such period as may be necessary (not exceeding two hours); and
(b) use reasonable force to prevent the person from making off while subject to a requirement under paragraph (a).
(3) A person who makes off while subject to such a requirement is guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(4) In subsection (2), a reference to an offence under a particular provision includes a reference to any offence consisting of an attempt to commit, incitement or conspiracy to commit, or aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of, an offence under that provision.
10 Intervention by Secretary of State in management of contracted out secure training centres.
(1) This section applies where, in the case of a contracted out secure training centre, it appears to the Secretary of State—
(a) that the director has lost, or is likely to lose, effective control of the secure training centre or any part of it; and
(b) that the making of an appointment under subsection (2) below is necessary in the interests of preserving the safety of any person, or of preventing serious damage to any property.
(2) The Secretary of State may appoint a Crown servant to act as governor of the secure training centre for the period—
(a) beginning with the time specified in the appointment; and
(b) ending with the time specified in the notice of termination under subsection (4) below.
(3) During that period—
(a) all the functions which would otherwise be exercisable by the director or monitor shall be exercisable by the governor;
(b) the contractor and any sub-contractor of his shall each do all that he reasonably can to facilitate the exercise by the governor of those functions; and
(c) the officers of the secure training centre shall comply with any directions given by the governor in the exercise of those functions.
(4) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied—
(a) that the governor has secured effective control of the secure training centre or, as the case may be, the relevant part of it; and
(b) that the governor’s appointment is no longer necessary for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above,
he shall, by a notice to the governor, terminate the appointment at a time specified in the notice.
(5) As soon as practicable after making or terminating an appointment under this section, the Secretary of State shall give a notice of the appointment, or a copy of the notice of termination, to the contractor, any sub-contractor of his, the director and the monitor.
11 Contracted out functions at directly managed secure training centres.
(1) The Secretary of State may enter into a contract with another person for any functions at a directly managed secure training centre to be performed by custody officers who are provided by that person and are authorised to perform custodial duties.
(2) Sections 9 and 9A shall apply in relation to a custody officer performing contracted out functions at a directly managed secure training centre as they apply in relation to such an officer performing custodial duties at a contracted out secure training centre.
(3) In relation to a directly managed secure training centre, the reference in section 13(2) of the Prison Act 1952 (legal custody of prisoners) as it applies to secure training centres to an officer of the prison shall be construed as including a reference to a custody officer performing custodial duties at the secure training centre in pursuance of a contract under this section.
(4) Any reference in subsections (1), (2) and (3) above to the performance of functions or custodial duties at a directly managed secure training centre includes a reference to the performance of functions or such duties for the purposes of, or for purposes connected with, such a secure training centre.
(1) The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Act (which make provision for escort arrangements persons detained in youth detention accommodation) shall have effect.
(2) The provisions of Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the certification of custody officers.
(3) In this Part, “custody officer” means a person in respect of whom a certificate is for the time being in force certifying—
(a) that he has been approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of performing any of the following—
(i) escort functions;
(ii) custodial duties at secure training centres;
(b) that he is accordingly authorised to perform them.
(1) Any person who assaults a custody officer—
(a) acting in pursuance of escort arrangements;
(b) performing custodial duties at a contracted out secure training centre; or
(c) performing contracted out functions at a directly managed secure training centre,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
(2) Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a custody officer—
(a) acting in pursuance of escort arrangements;
(b) performing custodial duties at a contracted out secure training centre; or
(c) performing contracted out functions at a directly managed secure training centre,
shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a custody officer shall not be regarded as acting in pursuance of escort arrangements at any time when he is not readily identifiable as such an officer (whether by means of a uniform or badge which he is wearing or otherwise).
14 Wrongful disclosure of information relating to persons detained in youth detention accommodation.
(1) A person who—
(a) is or has been employed (whether as a custody officer or otherwise) in pursuance of escort arrangements or at a contracted out secure training centre; or
(b) is or has been employed to perform contracted out functions at a directly managed secure training centre,
commits an offence if he discloses, otherwise than in the course of his duty or as authorised by the Secretary of State, any information which he acquired in the course of his employment and which relates to a particular person detained in youth detention accommodation .
(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable—
(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both;
(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.
In sections 7 to 14—
“contracted out functions” means any functions which, by virtue of a contract under section 11, fall to be performed by custody officers;
“contracted out secure training centre” means a secure training centre or part of a secure training centre in respect of which a contract under section 7(1) is for the time being in force;
“the contractor”, in relation to a contracted out secure training centre, means the person who has contracted with the Secretary of State for the provision or running (or the provision and running) of it;
“custodial duties” means custodial duties at a secure training centre;
“directly managed secure training centre” means a secure training centre which is not a contracted out secure training centre;
“escort arrangements” means the arrangements specified in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act;
“escort functions” means the functions specified in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to this Act;
“escort monitor” means a person appointed under paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 1 to this Act;
“secure training centre rules” has the meaning given by section 7(4)(b); and
“sub-contractor”, in relation to a contracted out secure training centre, means a person who has contracted with the contractor for the running of it or any part of it.
“youth detention accommodation” has the meaning given by section 248(1) of the Sentencing Code.
17 Maximum length of detention for young offenders.
(1) Section 1B of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 (maximum length of detention in young offender institution for offenders aged 15, 16 or 17 years) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2)(b), for the words “12 months” there shall be substituted the words “ 24 months ”.
(3) In subsection (4), for the words “12 months” there shall be substituted the words “ 24 months ”.
(4) In subsection (5), for the words “12 months” in both places where they occur there shall be substituted the words “ 24 months ”.
18 Accommodation of young offenders sentenced to custody for life.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) In section 43(1) of the Prison Act 1952 (which relates to the institutions for the detention of young offenders which may be provided by the Secretary of State), in paragraph (aa), at the end, there shall be inserted the words “ or to custody for life ”.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) In the Children Act 1989, Schedules 5 and 6 (which provide for the regulation of voluntary homes and registered childrens’ homes respectively) shall be amended as follows, that is to say—
(a) in Schedule 5, in paragraph 7(2) (regulations as to conduct of voluntary homes)—
(i) head (f) (power to prohibit provision of secure accommodation) shall be omitted; and
(ii) after that head, there shall be inserted the following—
(ff) require the approval of the Secretary of State for the provision and use of accommodation for the purpose of restricting the liberty of children in such homes and impose other requirements (in addition to those imposed by section 25) as to the placing of a child in accommodation provided for that purpose, including a requirement to obtain the permission of any local authority who are looking after the child;
; and
(b) in Schedule 6, in paragraph 10(2) (regulations as to conduct, etc. of registered childrens’ homes)—
(i) head (j) (power to prohibit use of accommodation as secure accommodation) shall be omitted; and
(ii) after that head, there shall be inserted the following—
(jj) require the approval of the Secretary of State for the provision and use of accommodation for the purpose of restricting the liberty of children in such homes and impose other requirements (in addition to those imposed by section 25) as to the placing of a child in accommodation provided for that purpose, including a requirement to obtain the permission of any local authority who are looking after the child.
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(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1) The Children Act 1989 shall be amended as follows.
(2) In section 53 (provision and management of community homes)—
(a) in subsection (3) (homes which may be community homes)—
(i) in paragraph (a), for the words “managed, equipped and maintained” there shall be substituted the words “ equipped, maintained and (subject to subsection (3A)) managed ”; and
(ii) in paragraph (b)(i), for the words “management, equipment and maintenance” there shall be substituted the words “ equipment, maintenance and (subject to subsection (3B)) management ”; and
(b) after subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsections—
(3A) A local authority may make arrangements for the management by another person of accommodation provided by the local authority for the purpose of restricting the liberty of children.
(3B) Where a local authority are to be responsible for the management of a community home provided by a voluntary organisation, the local authority may, with the consent of the body of managers constituted by the instrument of management for the home, make arrangements for the management by another person of accommodation provided for the purpose of restricting the liberty of children.
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(3) In Part II of Schedule 4 (management of controlled and assisted community homes)—
(a) in paragraph 3(4), after the word “managers” there shall be inserted the words “ , except in so far as, under section 53(3B), any of the accommodation is to be managed by another person. ”; and
(b) in paragraph 3(5), after the word “body” there shall be inserted the words “ ; and similarly, to the extent that a contract so provides, as respects anything done, liability incurred or property acquired by a person by whom, under section 53(3B), any of the accommodation is to be managed ”.
In section 38(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (detention of arrested juveniles after charge), in paragraph (b), for the words “age of 15 years” there shall be substituted the words “ age of 12 years ”.
25 No bail for defendants charged with or convicted of homicide or rape after previous conviction of such offences.
(1) A person who in any proceedings has been charged with or convicted of an offence to which this section applies in circumstances to which it applies shall be granted bail in those proceedings only if the court or, as the case may be, the constable considering the grant of bail is of the opinion that there are exceptional circumstances which justify it.
(2) This section applies, subject to subsection (3A) below, to the following offences, that is to say—
(a) murder;
(b) attempted murder;
(c) manslaughter;
(d) rape under the law of Scotland ...;
(e) an offence under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (rape);
(f) an offence under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (rape);
(g) an offence under section 2 of that Act (assault by penetration);
(h) an offence under section 4 of that Act (causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent), where the activity caused involved penetration within subsection (4)(a) to (d) of that section;
(i) an offence under section 5 of that Act (rape of a child under 13);
(j) an offence under section 6 of that Act (assault of a child under 13 by penetration);
(k) an offence under section 8 of that Act (causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity), where an activity involving penetration within subsection (3)(a) to (d) of that section was caused;
(l) an offence under section 30 of that Act (sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice), where the touching involved penetration within subsection (3)(a) to (d) of that section;
(m) an offence under section 31 of that Act (causing or inciting a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity), where an activity involving penetration within subsection (3)(a) to (d) of that section was caused;
(ma) an offence under Article 5 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (rape);
(mb) an offence under Article 6 of that Order (assault by penetration);
(mc) an offence under Article 8 of that Order (causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent) where the activity caused involved penetration within paragraph (4)(a) to (d) of that Article;
(md) an offence under Article 12 of that Order (rape of a child under 13);
(me) an offence under Article 13 of that Order (assault of a child under 13 by penetration);
(mf) an offence under Article 15 of that Order (causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity) where an activity involving penetration within paragraph (2)(a) to (d) of that Article was caused;
(mg) an offence under Article 43 of that Order (sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice) where the touching involved penetration within paragraph (3)(a) to (d) of that Article;
(mh) an offence under Article 44 of that Order (causing or inciting a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity) where an activity involving penetration within paragraph (3)(a) to (d) of that Article was caused;
(n) an attempt to commit an offence within any of paragraphs (d) to (mh).
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3A) This section applies where—
(a) the person has been previously convicted by or before a court in any part of the United Kingdom of any offence within subsection (2) or of culpable homicide, and
(b) if that previous conviction is one of manslaughter or culpable homicide—
(i) the person was then a child or young person, and was sentenced to long-term detention under any of the relevant enactments, or
(ii) the person was not then a child or young person, and was sentenced to imprisonment or detention.
(3B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) This section applies whether or not an appeal is pending against conviction or sentence.
(5) In this section—
“conviction” includes—
a finding that a person is not guilty by reason of insanity;
a finding under section 4A(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 (cases of unfitness to plead) that a person did the act or made the omission charged against him; and
a conviction of an offence for which an order is made . . . discharging the offender absolutely or conditionally;
and “convicted” shall be construed accordingly; ...
...
“the relevant enactments” means—
as respects England and Wales, section 91 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 or section 250 or 252A of the Sentencing Code;
as respects Scotland, sections 205(1) to (3) and 208 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995;
as respects Northern Ireland, section 73(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.
(5A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) This section does not apply in relation to proceedings instituted before its commencement.
26 No right to bail for persons accused or convicted of committing offence while on bail.
In Part I of Schedule 1 to the Bail Act 1976 (exceptions to right to bail for imprisonable offences)—
(a) after paragraph 2, there shall be inserted the following paragraph—
2A he defendant need not be granted bail if—
(a) the offence is an indictable offence or an offence triable either way; and
(b) it appears to the court that he was on bail in criminal proceedings on the date of the offence.
; and
(b) in paragraph 9, after the words “paragraph 2” there shall be inserted the words “ or 2A ”.
27 Power for police to grant conditional bail to persons charged.
(1) Part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (detention of persons, including powers of police to grant bail) shall have effect with the following amendments, that is to say, in section 47 (bail after arrest)—
(a) in subsection (1), for the words after “in accordance with” there shall be substituted the words “ sections 3, 3A, 5 and 5A of the Bail Act 1976 as they apply to bail granted by a constable ”; and
(b) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(1A) The normal powers to impose conditions of bail shall be available to him where a custody officer releases a person on bail under section 38(1) above (including that subsection as applied by section 40(10) above) but not in any other cases.
In this subsection, “the normal powers to impose conditions of bail” has the meaning given in section 3(6) of the Bail Act 1976.
.
(2) Section 3 of the Bail Act 1976 (incidents including conditions of bail in criminal proceedings) shall be amended as follows—
(a) in subsection (6), the words “(but only by a court)” shall be omitted;
(b) at the end of subsection (6) there shall be inserted— “ and, in any Act, “the normal powers to impose conditions of bail” means the powers to impose conditions under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above ”;
(c) after subsection (9), there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(10) This section is subject, in its application to bail granted by a constable, to section 3A of this Act.
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(3) After section 3 of the Bail Act 1976 there shall be inserted the following section—
Conditions of bail in case of police bail.
3A (1) Section 3 of this Act applies, in relation to bail granted by a custody officer under Part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in cases where the normal powers to impose conditions of bail are available to him, subject to the following modifications.
(2) Subsection (6) does not authorise the imposition of a requirement to reside in a bail hostel or any requirement under paragraph (d).
(3) Subsections (6ZA), (6A) and (6B) shall be omitted.
(4) For subsection (8), substitute the following—
”(8) Where a custody officer has granted bail in criminal proceedings he or another custody officer serving at the same police station may, at the request of the person to whom it was granted, vary the conditions of bail; and in doing so he may impose conditions or more onerous conditions.”.
(5) Where a constable grants bail to a person no conditions shall be imposed under subsections (4), (5), (6) or (7) of section 3 of this Act unless it appears to the constable that it is necessary to do so for the purpose of preventing that person from—
(a) failing to surrender to custody, or
(b) committing an offence while on bail, or
(c) interfering with witnesses or otherwise obstructing the course of justice, whether in relation to himself or any other person.
(6) Subsection (5) above also applies on any request to a custody officer under subsection (8) of section 3 of this Act to vary the conditions of bail.
.
(4) The further amendments contained in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect.
(1) Section 38 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (which requires an arrested person charged with an offence to be released except in specified circumstances) shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)(a), for sub-paragraphs (ii) and (iii) there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraphs—
(ii) the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the person arrested will fail to appear in court to answer to bail;
(iii) in the case of a person arrested for an imprisonable offence, the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessary to prevent him from committing an offence;
(iv) in the case of a person arrested for an offence which is not an imprisonable offence, the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessary to prevent him from causing physical injury to any other person or from causing loss of or damage to property;
(v) the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessary to prevent him from interfering with the administration of justice or with the investigation of offences or of a particular offence; or
(vi) the custody officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the detention of the person arrested is necessary for his own protection;
.
(3) After subsection (2), there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(2A) The custody officer, in taking the decisions required by subsection (1)(a) and (b) above (except (a)(i) and (vi) and (b)(ii)), shall have regard to the same considerations as those which a court is required to have regard to in taking the corresponding decisions under paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 1 to the Bail Act 1976.
.
(4) After subsection (7), there shall be inserted the following subsection—
(7A) In this section “imprisonable offence” has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 to the Bail Act 1976.
.
29 Power for police to arrest for failure to answer to police bail.
(1) Part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (detention of persons, including powers of police to grant bail) shall be amended as follows.
(2) After section 46 there shall be inserted the following section—
Power of arrest for failure to answer to police bail.
46A (1) A constable may arrest without a warrant any person who, having been released on bail under this Part of this Act subject to a duty to attend at a police station, fails to attend at that police station at the time appointed for him to do so.
(2) A person who is arrested under this section shall be taken to the police station appointed as the place at which he is to surrender to custody as soon as practicable after the arrest.
(3) For the purposes of—
(a) section 30 above (subject to the obligation in subsection (2) above), and
(b) section 31 above,
an arrest under this section shall be treated as an arrest for an offence.
.
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) In consequence of the foregoing amendments—
(a) in section 37(1), paragraph (b) shall be omitted;
(b) in sections 41(9), 42(11) and 43(19), at the end, there shall be inserted the words “; but this subsection does not prevent an arrest under section 46A below.”;
(c) in section 47, subsection (5) shall be omitted;
(d) in section 47(6), for the words “is detained under subsection (5) above” there shall be substituted the words “ who has been granted bail and either has attended at the police station in accordance with the grant of bail or has been arrested under section 46A above is detained at a police station ”; and
(e) in section 47(7), at the end, there shall be inserted the words “ ; but this subsection does not apply to a person who is arrested under section 46A above or has attended a police station in accordance with the grant of bail (and who accordingly is deemed by section 34(7) above to have been arrested for an offence). ”.
(5) This section applies whether the person released on bail was granted bail before or after the commencement of this section.
After the section 5A of the Bail Act 1976 inserted by Schedule 3 to this Act there shall be inserted the following section—
Reconsideration of decisions granting bail.
5B (1) Where a magistrates’ court has granted bail in criminal proceedings in connection with an offence, or proceedings for an offence, to which this section applies or a constable has granted bail in criminal proceedings in connection with proceedings for such an offence, that court or the appropriate court in relation to the constable may, on application by the prosecutor for the decision to be reconsidered,—
(a) vary the conditions of bail,
(b) impose conditions in respect of bail which has been granted unconditionally, or
(c) withhold bail.
(2) The offences to which this section applies are offences triable on indictment and offences triable either way.
(3) No application for the reconsideration of a decision under this section shall be made unless it is based on information which was not available to the court or constable when the decision was taken.
(4) Whether or not the person to whom the application relates appears before it, the magistrates’ court shall take the decision in accordance with section 4(1) (and Schedule 1) of this Act.
(5) Where the decision of the court on a reconsideration under this section is to withhold bail from the person to whom it was originally granted the court shall—
(a) if that person is before the court, remand him in custody, and
(b) if that person is not before the court, order him to surrender himself forthwith into the custody of the court.
(6) Where a person surrenders himself into the custody of the court in compliance with an order under subsection (5) above, the court shall remand him in custody.
(7) A person who has been ordered to surrender to custody under subsection (5) above may be arrested without warrant by a constable if he fails without reasonable cause to surrender to custody in accordance with the order.
(8) A person arrested in pursuance of subsection (7) above shall be brought as soon as practicable, and in any event within 24 hours after his arrest, before a justice of the peace for the petty sessions area in which he was arrested and the justice shall remand him in custody.
In reckoning for the purposes of this subsection any period of 24 hours, no account shall be taken of Christmas Day, Good Friday or any Sunday.
(9) Magistrates’ court rules shall include provision—
(a) requiring notice of an application under this section and of the grounds for it to be given to the person affected, including notice of the powers available to the court under it;
(b) for securing that any representations made by the person affected (whether in writing or orally) are considered by the court before making its decision; and
(c) designating the court which is the appropriate court in relation to the decision of any constable to grant bail.
.
(1) Any requirement whereby at a trial on indictment it is obligatory for the court to give the jury a warning about convicting the accused on the uncorroborated evidence of a person merely because that person is—
(a) an alleged accomplice of the accused, or
(b) where the offence charged is a sexual offence, the person in respect of whom it is alleged to have been committed,
is hereby abrogated.
(2) In section 34(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (abolition of requirement of corroboration warning in respect of evidence of a child) the words from “in relation to” to the end shall be omitted.
(3) Any requirement that—
(a) is applicable at the summary trial of a person for an offence, and
(b) corresponds to the requirement mentioned in subsection (1) above or that mentioned in section 34(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988,
is hereby abrogated.
(4) Nothing in this section applies in relation to—
(a) any trial, or
(b) any proceedings before a magistrates’ court as examining justices,
which began before the commencement of this section.
33 Abolition of corroboration requirements under Sexual Offences Act 1956.
(1) The following provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (which provide that a person shall not be convicted of the offence concerned on the evidence of one witness only unless the witness is corroborated) are hereby repealed—
(a) section 2(2) (procurement of woman by threats),
(b) section 3(2) (procurement of woman by false pretences),
(c) section 4(2) (administering drugs to obtain or facilitate intercourse),
(d) section 22(2) (causing prostitution of women), and
(e) section 23(2) (procuration of girl under twenty-one).
(2) Nothing in this section applies in relation to—
(a) any trial, or
(b) any proceedings before a magistrates’ court as examining justices,
which began before the commencement of this section.
34 Effect of accused’s failure to mention facts when questioned or charged.
(1) Where, in any proceedings against a person for an offence, evidence is given that the accused—
(a) at any time before he was charged with the offence, on being questioned under caution by a constable trying to discover whether or by whom the offence had been committed, failed to mention any fact relied on in his defence in those proceedings; or
(b) on being charged with the offence or officially informed that he might be prosecuted for it, failed to mention any such fact,
; or
(c) at any time after being charged with the offence, on being questioned under section 22 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (post-charge questioning), failed to mention any such fact,
being a fact which in the circumstances existing at the time the accused could reasonably have been expected to mention when so questioned, charged or informed, as the case may be, subsection (2) below applies.
(2) Where this subsection applies—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) a judge, in deciding whether to grant an application made by the accused under paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
(c) the court, in determining whether there is a case to answer;
and
(d) the court or jury, in determining whether the accused is guilty of the offence charged,
may draw such inferences from the failure as appear proper.
(2A) Where the accused was at an authorised place of detention at the time of the failure, subsections (1) and (2) above do not apply if he had not been allowed an opportunity to consult a solicitor prior to being questioned, charged or informed as mentioned in subsection (1) above.
(3) Subject to any directions by the court, evidence tending to establish the failure may be given before or after evidence tending to establish the fact which the accused is alleged to have failed to mention.
(4) This section applies in relation to questioning by persons (other than constables) charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders as it applies in relation to questioning by constables; and in subsection (1) above “officially informed” means informed by a constable or any such person.
(5) This section does not—
(a) prejudice the admissibility in evidence of the silence or other reaction of the accused in the face of anything said in his presence relating to the conduct in respect of which he is charged, in so far as evidence thereof would be admissible apart from this section; or
(b) preclude the drawing of any inference from any such silence or other reaction of the accused which could properly be drawn apart from this section.
(6) This section does not apply in relation to a failure to mention a fact if the failure occurred before the commencement of this section.
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1) At the trial of any person . . . for an offence, subsections (2) and (3) below apply unless—
(a) the accused’s guilt is not in issue; or
(b) it appears to the court that the physical or mental condition of the accused makes it undesirable for him to give evidence;
but subsection (2) below does not apply if, at the conclusion of the evidence for the prosecution, his legal representative informs the court that the accused will give evidence or, where he is unrepresented, the court ascertains from him that he will give evidence.
(2) Where this subsection applies, the court shall, at the conclusion of the evidence for the prosecution, satisfy itself (in the case of proceedings on indictment with a jury , in the presence of the jury) that the accused is aware that the stage has been reached at which evidence can be given for the defence and that he can, if he wishes, give evidence and that, if he chooses not to give evidence, or having been sworn, without good cause refuses to answer any question, it will be permissible for the court or jury to draw such inferences as appear proper from his failure to give evidence or his refusal, without good cause, to answer any question.
(3) Where this subsection applies, the court or jury, in determining whether the accused is guilty of the offence charged, may draw such inferences as appear proper from the failure of the accused to give evidence or his refusal, without good cause, to answer any question.
(4) This section does not render the accused compellable to give evidence on his own behalf, and he shall accordingly not be guilty of contempt of court by reason of a failure to do so.
(5) For the purposes of this section a person who, having been sworn, refuses to answer any question shall be taken to do so without good cause unless—
(a) he is entitled to refuse to answer the question by virtue of any enactment, whenever passed or made, or on the ground of privilege; or
(b) the court in the exercise of its general discretion excuses him from answering it.
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(7) This section applies—
(a) in relation to proceedings on indictment for an offence, only if the person charged with the offence is arraigned on or after the commencement of this section;
(b) in relation to proceedings in a magistrates’ court, only if the time when the court begins to receive evidence in the proceedings falls after the commencement of this section.
36 Effect of accused’s failure or refusal to account for objects, substances or marks.
(1) Where—
(a) a person is arrested by a constable, and there is—
(i) on his person; or
(ii) in or on his clothing or footwear; or
(iii) otherwise in his possession; or
(iv) in any place in which he is at the time of his arrest,
any object, substance or mark, or there is any mark on any such object; and
(b) that or another constable investigating the case reasonably believes that the presence of the object, substance or mark may be attributable to the participation of the person arrested in the commission of an offence specified by the constable; and
(c) the constable informs the person arrested that he so believes, and requests him to account for the presence of the object, substance or mark; and
(d) the person fails or refuses to do so,
then if, in any proceedings against the person for the offence so specified, evidence of those matters is given, subsection (2) below applies.
(2) Where this subsection applies—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) a judge, in deciding whether to grant an application made by the accused under paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
(c) the court, in determining whether there is a case to answer; and
(d) the court or jury, in determining whether the accused is guilty of the offence charged,
may draw such inferences from the failure or refusal as appear proper.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) above apply to the condition of clothing or footwear as they apply to a substance or mark thereon.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) above do not apply unless the accused was told in ordinary language by the constable when making the request mentioned in subsection (1)(c) above what the effect of this section would be if he failed or refused to comply with the request.
(4A) Where the accused was at an authorised place of detention at the time of the failure or refusal, subsections (1) and (2) above do not apply if he had not been allowed an opportunity to consult a solicitor prior to the request being made.
(5) This section applies in relation to officers of customs and excise as it applies in relation to constables.
(5A) This section applies in relation to enforcement officers who—
(a) are appointed by the Secretary of State under section 90 of the Employment Rights Act 2025, and
(b) are acting in the exercise of functions conferred on them by virtue of section 114B of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
as it applies in relation to constables.
(6) This section does not preclude the drawing of any inference from a failure or refusal of the accused to account for the presence of an object, substance or mark or from the condition of clothing or footwear which could properly be drawn apart from this section.
(7) This section does not apply in relation to a failure or refusal which occurred before the commencement of this section.
(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37 Effect of accused’s failure or refusal to account for presence at a particular place.
(1) Where—
(a) a person arrested by a constable was found by him at a place at or about the time the offence for which he was arrested is alleged to have been committed; and
(b) that or another constable investigating the offence reasonably believes that the presence of the person at that place and at that time may be attributable to his participation in the commission of the offence; and
(c) the constable informs the person that he so believes, and requests him to account for that presence; and
(d) the person fails or refuses to do so,
then if, in any proceedings against the person for the offence, evidence of those matters is given, subsection (2) below applies.
(2) Where this subsection applies—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) a judge, in deciding whether to grant an application made by the accused under paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
(c) the court, in determining whether there is a case to answer; and
(d) the court or jury, in determining whether the accused is guilty of the offence charged,
may draw such inferences from the failure or refusal as appear proper.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply unless the accused was told in ordinary language by the constable when making the request mentioned in subsection (1)(c) above what the effect of this section would be if he failed or refused to comply with the request.
(3A) Where the accused was at an authorised place of detention at the time of the failure or refusal, subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if he had not been allowed an opportunity to consult a solicitor prior to the request being made.
(4) This section applies in relation to officers of customs and excise as it applies in relation to constables.
(4A) This section applies in relation to enforcement officers who—
(a) are appointed by the Secretary of State under section 90 of the Employment Rights Act 2025, and
(b) are acting in the exercise of functions conferred on them by virtue of section 114B of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
as it applies in relation to constables.
(5) This section does not preclude the drawing of any inference from a failure or refusal of the accused to account for his presence at a place which could properly be drawn apart from this section.
(6) This section does not apply in relation to a failure or refusal which occurred before the commencement of this section.
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38 Interpretation and savings for sections 34, 35, 36 and 37.
(1) In sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of this Act—
“legal representative” means a person who, for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007, is an authorised person in relation to an activity which constitutes the exercise of a right of audience or the conduct of litigation (within the meaning of that Act); and
“place” includes any building or part of a building, any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft and any other place whatsoever.
(2) In sections 34(2), 35(3), 36(2) and 37(2), references to an offence charged include references to any other offence of which the accused could lawfully be convicted on that charge.
(2A) In each of sections 34(2A), 36(4A) and 37(3A) “ authorised place of detention ” means—
(a) a police station; or
(b) any other place prescribed for the purposes of that provision by order made by the Secretary of State;
and the power to make an order under this subsection shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(3) A person shall not have the proceedings against him transferred to the Crown Court for trial, have a case to answer or be convicted of an offence solely on an inference drawn from such a failure or refusal as is mentioned in section 34(2), 35(3), 36(2) or 37(2).
(4) A judge shall not refuse to grant such an application as is mentioned in section 34(2)(b), 36(2)(b) and 37(2)(b) solely on an inference drawn from such a failure as is mentioned in section 34(2), 36(2) or 37(2).
(5) Nothing in sections 34, 35, 36 or 37 prejudices the operation of a provision of any enactment which provides (in whatever words) that any answer or evidence given by a person in specified circumstances shall not be admissible in evidence against him or some other person in any proceedings or class of proceedings (however described, and whether civil or criminal).
In this subsection, the reference to giving evidence is a reference to giving evidence in any manner, whether by furnishing information, making discovery, producing documents or otherwise.
(6) Nothing in sections 34, 35, 36 or 37 prejudices any power of a court, in any proceedings, to exclude evidence (whether by preventing questions being put or otherwise) at its discretion.
39 Power to apply sections 34 to 38 to armed forces.
(1) The Secretary of State may by order direct that any provision of sections 34 to 38 of this Act shall apply, subject to such modifications as he may specify, to any proceedings to which this section applies.
(2) This section applies to any proceedings before an officer or court in respect of a service offence (other than proceedings before a civilian court); and “service offence” and “civilian court” here have the same meanings as in the Armed Forces Act 2006.
(3) An order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.