To All Criminal Practitioners – Better Case Management
The new Criminal Practice Directions 2015 were issued on 29 September. The new Criminal Procedure Rules come into force on Monday, 5 October 2015.
The provisions of immediate practical effect are those concerning Better Case Management, which make radical changes to the way in which cases make their way to the Crown Court and to the way in which they are handled on arrival. Preliminary Hearings and Plea and Case Management Hearings are to be replaced by a single Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH). To be effective, PTPHs will require detailed preparation by and pre-hearing liaison between prosecution and defence. All agencies will now be required to participate and to engage from the very start: the Police, the CPS, the Bar, Solicitors, HMCTS and Probation.
In order to assist practitioners from both sides of the profession in preparing for these changes, a Forum has been arranged, to be held at 4.30pm on Tuesday 20 October at the Magistrates’ Court in Manchester.
His Honour Judge David Stockdale QC, The Honorary Recorder of Manchester will chair the panel, comprising representatives from all agencies, who will address the meeting and take questions.
If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] to book your place.
Criminal Practice Directions 2015
The Criminal Procedure Rules 2015
