Citation and commencement, etc.

1.—(1) This Act of Adjournal may be cited as the Act of Adjournal (Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 Amendment) (European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020) 2023.

(2) It comes into force on 30th June 2023.

(3) A certified copy is to be inserted in the Books of Adjournal.

Amendment of the Criminal Procedure Rules 1996

2.—(1) The Criminal Procedure Rules 1996( 3) are amended in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) In Chapter 34A (interpretation and translation in European Arrest Warrant proceedings)( 4)—

(a) in the chapter heading, for “EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT” substitute “PART 1”;

(b) in rule 34A.1 (interpretation and application), omit the definition of “the Directive”;

(c) in rule 34A.2 (right to interpretation assistance), in paragraph (2)(b) omit “in accordance with the Directive”.

(3) The following provisions are revoked—

(a) Chapter 61 (European Protection Orders)( 5);

(b) Chapter 67 (European Investigation Orders)( 6);

(c) in the appendix, Forms 61.3 to 61.7-B and 67.2 to 67.9.

Saving

3.  The amendments made by paragraph 2 have no effect in respect of—

(a) a European Protection Order received by a sheriff before 31st December 2020;

(b) a European Protection Order issued under section 254B(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 before 1st December 2022;

(c) a European Investigation Order received by the Lord Advocate or the executing authority (as defined in Article 2(d) of Chapter 1 of Directive 2014/41/EUof the European Parliament and of the Council of 3rd April 2014 regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters)( 7) before 31st December 2020.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Act of Adjournal)

This Act of Adjournal makes necessary consequential amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules 1996 (“ the 1996 Rules”) following upon the United Kingdom leaving the European Union on 31st December 2020, and in consequence of the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020.

Paragraph 2(2)(a) amends the heading of Chapter 34A, omitting reference to European Arrest Warrant. After the transition period (which ended on 31st December 2020), Directive 2010/64/EUhas no legal effect in Scotland and European Arrest Warrants are obsolete.

Paragraphs 2(2)(b) and (c) amend rules 34A.1 and 34A.2 to remove references to Directive 2010/64/EU. Chapter 34A now applies to all Part 1 warrants, of which European Arrest Warrants are a subset.

Paragraph 2(3) removes all reference to European Protection Orders (“ EPO”) and European Investigation Orders (“ EIO”) respectively from the 1996 Rules by revoking Chapters 61 and 67 and associated forms. After 31st December 2020, both EPOs and EIOs are obsolete.

Paragraph 3 makes saving provision in respect of any EPO or EIO received before the end of the transition period and in respect of any EPOs issued before 1st December 2022 which is the date that the Civil Protection Measures, European Protection Order and Victims’ Rights (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment Etc.) Regulations 2022 ( S.S.I. 2022/249) came into force.