Prisons and Courts Bill (HC Bill 145)
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, are published
separately as Bill 145—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Secretary Elizabeth Truss has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of
the Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Prisons and Courts Bill are compatible with the
Convention rights.
Contents
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Part 1
Prisons
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Purpose of prisons etc; Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector and Inspectorate of Prisons
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The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman
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Prison security
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Part 2
Procedures in civil, family and criminal matters
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Conducting preliminary proceedings in writing: criminal courts
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24. Charge by police or prosecutor: non-appearance in court after guilty plea
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25. Either way offence: choice of written procedure for plea before venue
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26. Either way offence: choice of written procedure for mode of trial
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27. Power to proceed if accused absent from allocation proceedings
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28. Low-value shoplifting: choice of written election for Crown Court trial
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Conduct of certain criminal proceedings on the papers
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Audio and video technology: criminal courts
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Public participation: court and tribunal proceedings conducted by video or audio
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Automatic online conviction and standard statutory penalty
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Online procedure: the civil and family courts and the tribunals
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Powers to remit proceedings to other courts
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Prohibition of cross-examination in family proceedings
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Tribunal rules
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Part 3
Organisation and functions of courts and tribunals
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Functions of staff of courts and tribunals
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Abolition of local justice areas
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Composition of employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal
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Delegation of functions by the Senior President of Tribunals
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Other changes
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Part 4
The judiciary and the Judicial Appointments Commission
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The judiciary
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The Judicial Appointments Commission
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Part 5
Whiplash
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Whiplash injuries
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Damages
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Settlement of whiplash claims
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Part 6
Final provisions
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Conducting preliminary proceedings in writing: children and
young people -
Public participation in proceedings conducted by video or
audio -
Amendments relating to the online procedure in courts and
tribunals -
Court and tribunal staff: legal advice and judicial functions
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Traffic and air quality offences: use of statements of truth