The Ministry of Justice has amended the Criminal Defence Service
(CDS) Funding Order in the light of the planned commencement (in
certain local justice areas) of schedule 3 to the Criminal Justice
Act 2003. The effect of schedule 3 will be that in those areas,
either way offences will be sent from the magistrates' court to the
Crown Court rather than reaching the Crown Court by way of
committal proceedings.
The provisions will commence initially in the following twelve
local justice areas:
- Bath and Wansdyke
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Liverpool and Knowsley
- North Avon
- North Hampshire
- North Somerset
- Ormskirk
- Sefton
- St Helens
- Wigan and Leigh
- Wirral
The amended order was laid on 22 May and will come into force on
18 June. Other criminal justice areas will follow later in
2012.