Crime news: pre-charge engagement scope changes and CWA reporting
Rollout of the Standard Crime Contract 2022 will change the scope of pre-charge engagement for cases that start on or after 1 October 2022.
Scope changes affecting pre-charge engagement work means there will be an additional reporting code to use in Controlled Work and Administration (CWA) from 1 October 2022.
What are the changes?
皇冠体育app changes allow providers to claim for preparatory work carried out before any agreement with the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for pre-charge engagement.
Main points to note are:
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It applies when preparatory work takes place to determine if pre-charge engagement would benefit the client.
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Claims may be submitted irrespective of whether there is subsequent agreement between parties to the investigation to do any pre-charge engagement work.
Before 1 October 2022 it is not possible to claim for work when the above applies. But from 1 October providers will be able to make a claim, even where there is no subsequent agreement.
Details of the criteria which needs to be satisfied to make a claim are set out in chapter 9 of the Standard Crime Contract 2022 specification .
What is pre-charge engagement?
皇冠体育app work involves voluntary meetings and correspondence with the police and CPS prosecutors after the first police interview under caution before any charges.
It is a voluntary process carried out in line with the Attorney General鈥檚 guidelines on disclosure.
Where can I find out more?
You can view the amended 2022 Standard Crime Contract specification on GOV.UK. Chapter 9 covers pre-charge engagement. See paragraphs 9.113-9.137.
Changes to supporting guidance will also be made on 1 October to coincide with the start of the Standard Crime Contract 2022. 皇冠体育app Criminal Bills Assessment Manual will be updated, and CWA outcome code CN13 will be introduced for this new cohort of cases.
Providers should note that code CN13 is labelled 鈥榩re-charge engagement not agreed鈥�.
Further information
Standard Crime Contract 2022 鈥� see chapter 9 of the specification for amendments
Criminal Bills Assessment Manual 鈥� new version available from 1 October
Attorney General鈥檚 Guidelines on Disclosure 2020 鈥� annex B, paragraph 10
CWA guidance 鈥� claim codes guidance will include new outcome code CN13 from 1 October
Government鈥檚 interim response to the criminal legal aid independent review 鈥� for the government鈥檚 position on the funding of pre-charge engagement