Section 19: Provision for orders as to costs in other circumstances., Prosecution of Offences Act 1985

The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision empowering magistrates' courts, the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal, in any case where the court is satisfied that one party to criminal proceedings has incurred costs as a result of an unnecessary or improper act or omission by, or on behalf of, another party to the proceedings, to make an order as to the payment of those costs.

Regulations made under subsection (1) above may, in particular—

allow the making of such an order at any time during the proceedings;

make provision as to the account to be taken, in making such an order, of any other order as to costs . . . which has been made in respect of the proceedings or of whether, for the purposes of the proceedings, representation has been provided under Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 ;

make provision as to the account to be taken of any such order in the making of any other order as to costs in respect of the proceedings; and

contain provisions similar to those in section 18(4) and (5) of this Act.

The Lord Chancellor may by regulations make provision for the payment out of central funds, in such circumstances and in relation to such criminal proceedings as may be specified, of such sums as appear to the court to be reasonably necessary—

to compensate any witness in the proceedings , and any other person who in the opinion of the court necessarily attends for the purpose of the proceedings otherwise than to give evidence, for the expense, trouble or loss of time properly incurred in or incidental to his attendance;

to cover the proper expenses of an interpreter who is required because of the accused's lack of English;

to compensate a duly qualified medical practitioner who—

makes a report otherwise than in writing for the purpose of section 11 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (remand for medical examination); or

makes a written report to a court in pursuance of a request within subsection (3B) below;

for the expenses properly incurred in or incidental to his reporting to the court.

to cover the proper fee or costs of a person appointed by the Crown Court under section 4A of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 to put the case for the defence.

to cover the proper fee or costs of a legal representative appointed under section 38(4) of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (defence representation for purposes of cross-examination) and any expenses properly incurred in providing such a person with evidence or other material in connection with his appointment.

In relation to a sum that may be required by a court other than the Supreme Court to be paid out of central funds under regulations under subsection (3)—

the requirement under that subsection for the sum to be such sum as the court considers reasonably necessary to cover or compensate for expenses, fees, costs, trouble or losses is subject to regulations made under section 20(1A)(d), and

regulations under subsection (3) may make provision accordingly.

In subsection (3)(a) above "attendance " means attendance at the court or elsewhere.

A request is within this subsection if—

it is a request to a registered medical practitioner to make a written or oral report on the medical condition of an offender or defendant; and

it is made by a court—

for the purpose of determining whether or not to include a mental health treatment requirement in a community order or youth rehabilitation order or make an order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (hospital orders and guardianship orders) or otherwise for the purpose of determining the most suitable method of dealing with an offender; or

in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (remand of a defendant for medical examination).

For the purposes of subsection (3B)(b)(i)—

"community order" has the meaning given by section 200 of the Sentencing Code;
"mental health treatment requirement" means—
(a)in relation to a community order, a mental health treatment requirement within the meaning given by paragraph 16 of Schedule 9 to the Sentencing Code, and
(b)in relation to a youth rehabilitation order, a mental health treatment requirement within the meaning given by paragraph 28 of Schedule 6 to that Code;
"youth rehabilitation order" has the meaning given by section 173 of the Sentencing Code.

Regulations under subsection (3) may make provision generally or only in relation to particular descriptions of persons, expenses, fees, costs, trouble or losses.

The Court of Appeal may order the payment out of central funds of such sums as appear to it to be reasonably sufficient to compensate an appellant who is not in custody and who appears before it on, or in connection with, his appeal under Part I of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968.

Subsection (4) has effect subject to regulations under section 20(1A)(d).

An order under subsection (4) may not require the payment out of central funds of a sum that includes a sum in respect of legal costs (as defined in section 16A), except where regulations made by the Lord Chancellor provide otherwise.

Regulations under subsection (4B) may, in particular, include—

provision for an exception to arise where a determination has been made by a person specified in the regulations,

provision requiring the court, when it orders the payment of a sum that includes a sum in respect of legal costs, to include a statement to that effect in the order, and

provision that the court may not order the payment of a sum in respect of legal costs exceeding an amount specified in the regulations.

The Lord Chancellor may by regulations provide that any provision made by or under this Part which would not otherwise apply in relation to any category of proceedings in which an offender is before a magistrates' court or the Crown Court shall apply in relation to proceedings of that category, subject to any specified modifications.

Section 19: Provision for orders as to costs in other circumstances.

Discussed in

About this text