The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 - Key Changes Explained with Colin Beaumont

Introduction

In October 2025, the new Criminal Procedure Rules came into force, replacing the 2020 version under Statutory Instrument 2025 No. 909.

With 50 Rules in total, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This bitesized webinar will focus on 15 key rules that legal professionals must know, whether you are involved in criminal law in any capacity, whether prosecuting, defending or advising justices.

These Rules are not mere formalities; they shape how justice is administered and evolve constantly through case law, judicial direction and legislation.

This webinar is essential for anyone involved in criminal law practice, offering clarity and practical guidance to ensure compliance and effective case management under the 2025 Rules.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Rule 2 - Understanding and applying the Rules, the definition of a ‘business day’ and complying with any time periods set by the Rules
• Rule 3 - Case management - the directions that may be made by the court under this Rule and the directions that may not be made by the court
• Rule 7 - Starting a prosecution in a Magistrates’ Court - the meaning of those words ‘instituting proceedings’ when dealing with summary-only offences
• Rule 8 - Initial Details of the Prosecution Case (ID PC) - that which should be provided to the defence prior to plea, as supplemented by the Criminal Practice Directions 2023
• Rule 9 - Allocation and sending for trial - amendments as a result of the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022
• Rule 12 - Discontinuing a prosecution - the CPS might be reluctant to offer no evidence and ask for a case to be dismissed but they might be more amenable to serving a notice of discontinuance
• Rule 14 - Bail and custody time limits (CTL)
• Rule 19 - Expert evidence - this Rule has been supplemented by Chapter 7 of the Criminal Practice Directions 2023 as issued by the Lord Chief Justice
• Rule 20 - Hearsay - the current time periods as regards the service of notices to introduce hearsay evidence

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Friday 19th December 2025

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 1,900+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.