The Criminal Legal Aid (Amendment) Regulations 2017

These Regulations make amendments to the following subordinate criminal legal aid legislation made under Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c.10) (“the Act”): (i) the Criminal Legal Aid (General) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/9) (the “General Regulations”); (ii) the Criminal Legal Aid (Financial Resources) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/471) (the “Financial Resources Regulations”); and (iii) the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations (S.I. 2013/435) (the “Remuneration Regulations”). The amendments made by these Regulations expand the scope of criminal legal aid to include (i) advice and assistance regarding reviews of a prisoner’s classification as a Category A Prisoner (a “Category A Prisoner” being a prisoner whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public, the police or national security, and for whom the aim is to make escape impossible); (ii) advice and assistance regarding directions as to a prisoner’s placement in a close supervision centre of a prison; (iii) advice and assistance regarding directions as to a prisoner’s placement in a separation centre within a prison; and (iv) all proceedings before the Parole Board.