Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Criminal Legal Aid (Standard Crime Contract) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 1st October 2025.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Amendments to the Criminal Legal Aid (General) Regulations 2013

2.—(1) The Criminal Legal Aid (General) Regulations 2013(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In each of the following places, for “2022 Standard Crime Contract” substitute “2025 Standard Crime Contract”—

(a)regulation 2 (interpretation), in both places it occurs,

(b)regulation 8(b) (applications),

(c)regulation 11(3) (general),

(d)regulation 14 (applications), in both places it occurs,

(e)regulation 15(1)(b) (determinations),

(f)regulation 16(e)(ii) (withdrawal), and

(g)regulation 17(b) (appeal).

Amendments to the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013

3.—(1) The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013(4) are amended as follows.

(2) In each of the following places, for “2022 Standard Crime Contract” substitute “2025 Standard Crime Contract”—

(a)regulation 8 (claims for fees for certain categories of work to which the Standard Crime Contract applies), in both places it occurs, and

(b)paragraph 1(a) of Schedule 4 (rates payable for the claims specified in regulation 8).

(3) In paragraph 2(8) of Schedule 4, for “Annex A to the 2022 Standard Crime Contract Guidance for reporting crime lower work” substitute “Annex A to version 18 (February 2025) of the Standard Crime Contract Guidance for Reporting Crime Lower Work”.

(4) In paragraph 2A(5) of Schedule 4, for “Annex A to version 16 (December 2023) of the 2022 Standard Crime Contract Guidance for reporting crime lower work” substitute “Annex A to version 18 (February 2025) of the Standard Crime Contract Guidance for Reporting Crime Lower Work”.

Amendments to the Criminal Legal Aid (Financial Resources) Regulations 2013

4. In regulation 5(2) (advice and assistance: exceptions from requirement to make a determination in respect of an individual’s financial resources) of the Criminal Legal Aid (Financial Resources) Regulations 2013(5), for “2022 Standard Crime Contract” substitute “2025 Standard Crime Contract”, in both places it occurs.

Transitional provision

5.—(1) These Regulations do not apply to services made available pursuant to a determination made before 1st October 2025 where the provider of those services does not hold a 2025 Standard Crime Contract.

(2) In this regulation, “ determination ” means a determination under section 13 (advice and assistance for individuals in custody) , 15 (advice and assistance for criminal proceedings) or 16 (representation for criminal proceedings) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 .

(3) In this regulation, “ provider ” means a person who provides criminal legal aid pursuant to an arrangement with the Lord Chancellor under section 2(1) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 .