About us

The Criminal Procedure Rules govern the way criminal cases are managed, and set out the processes of the criminal courts.


Our responsibilities

We’re responsible for:

  • making new Criminal Procedure Rules
  • simplifying the existing rules
  • discussing our decisions with the most appropriate people before our decisions are finalised

Our priorities

Our priorities are to:

  • make the criminal justice system as accessible, fair and efficient as possible
  • ensure that the rules are simply worded and easy to understand

Membership

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee consists of the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and 17 people appointed by the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor under section 70 of the Courts Act 2003.

The Lady Chief Justice is The Rt Hon. The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill. The other members of the Committee are:

Member Capacity Term of office ends on/to be reviewed by
The Rt Hon Lord Justice, Holroyde (deputy chairman Court of Appeal judge 31 Aug 2026  
The Rt Hon. Lord Justice William Davis Court of Appeal judge 31 Aug 2025  
The Hon. Mrs Justice Foster DBE High Court judge 31 Aug 2025  
HH Judge Patrick Field KC Circuit judge 31 Aug 2025  
Her Honour Judge Heather Norton Circuit judge 31 Aug 2026  
Michael Oliver   District Judge  (Magistrates’ Courts)   31 Aug 2028                                    
David Barrand Magistrate 31 Aug 2027  
Amy McEvoy Justices’ legal adviser 31 Aug 2027  
Ed Lidington Lord Chancellor’s nominee 31 Aug 2025  
Stephen Parkinson Director of Public Prosecutions ex officio (by right of office)  
Jacob Hallam KC    Barrister     31 Aug 2028  
Paul Jarvis Barrister 31 Aug 2027  
Shade Abiodun Solicitor 31 Aug 2025  
Edmund Smyth Solicitor 31 Aug 2027  
Chief Constable Rob Nixon National Police Chiefs’ Council 31 Aug 2025  
Rebecca White Voluntary organisation 31 Aug 2027  
Robert Thomas Voluntary organisation 31 Aug 2027  

Meeting agendas and minutes

Corporate information

Jobs and contracts

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