Crown Court Rule Committee
Annual Report April 2002 – March 2003
Terms of Reference
The Crown Court Rule Committee is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. It was created by virtue of section 86 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 which confers the power to make Crown Court Rules for the purpose of regulating and prescribing the practice and procedure to be followed by the Crown Court. The function of the Crown Court Rule Committee is to examine any proposed amendments to those Rules.
Rules considered during April 2002 / March 2003
- Criminal Appeal (Confiscation, Restraint and Receivership) Rules 2003 (S.I. 2003 No 428)
These Rules make provision as to procedure in the criminal division of the Court of Appeal for the purposes of three new appeals introduced by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
- The Crown Court (Confiscation, Restraint and Receivership) Rules 2003 (S.I. 2003 No. 421)
These Rules make provision for the procedure to be followed in proceedings in the Crown Court under Part 2 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which makes provision about confiscation orders and ancillary orders such as the making of restraint orders and the appointment of receivers.
- The Crown Court (Special Measures Direction and Directions Prohibiting Cross-examination) Rules 2002 (SI 2002 No. 1688)
These rules contain provisions relating to applications for a special measures direction in the case of witnesses who require assistance on the grounds of age or incapacity or on the grounds of fear or distress about testifying.
- The Crown Court (Amendment) (No.2) Rules 2002 (S.I. 2002 No. 2997)
These Rules amend the Crown Court Rules 1982 in consequence of the enactment of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
- The Crown Court (Amendment) (No.2) Rules 2003 (S.I.2003 No. 639)
These Rules amend the Crown Court Rules 1982 in consequence of the bringing into force of Part 2 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
- The Crown Court (Amendment) Rules 2002 (S.I.2002 No.2783)
These rules provide a form for the order which can be made under section 1C of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 on conviction in criminal proceedings for an offence committed after the commencement of section 64 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
Further Information
- The Committee does not hold a budget. Appointments to it do not attract remuneration and are undertaken on a voluntary basis. The Committee does not meet in person and is consulted by post. Administrative overheads are therefore limited to routine mail and telephone charges which are absorbed into departmental running costs.
- All executive non-departmental public bodies have in place codes of conduct for their members, including publicly available registers of interest.
Membership
The Committee is usually made up of three ex officio members, two judges of the Supreme Court, two circuit judges, a justice of the peace, two practising barristers and two practising solicitors. Members can serve a maximum of two, three-year terms.
Ex Officio Members
The Lord Chancellor
The Lord Chief Justice
The Registrar of Criminal Appeals
Supreme Court Judge
Lord Justice Kay, Royal Courts of Justice (appointment expires 31st
December 2003)
Lord Justice Potter, Royal Courts of Justice (appointment expires 27th
February 2004)
Circuit Judge
His Honour Judge Duncan Matheson QC (appointment expires 20th January
2006)
His Honour Judge Carol Hagen (appointment expires 26th July 2004)
Justice of the Peace
Mrs Elizabeth Barnett (appointment expires 27th February 2004)
Barrister
Mr Peter Carter (appointment expires 27th February 2004)
Mr Jeffrey Pegden (appointment expires 26th July 2004)
Solicitors
Mr Ewen Smith (appointment expires 20 January 2006)
Mr Graham White (appointment expires 27th February 2004)