Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026.

(2) These Rules come into force on 5th March 2026.

(3) These Rules extend to England and Wales.

Amendments to the Parole Board Rules 2019

2.—(1) The Parole Board Rules 2019(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In rule 19 (consideration on the papers), for paragraph (1ZA) substitute—

“(1ZA) Where a panel considers a case—

(a)where a prisoner is under investigation for a new criminal offence which is relevant to the prisoner’s risk,

(b)where a prisoner has been charged with a new criminal offence which is relevant to the prisoner’s risk and the charge has not yet been resolved, or

(c)where a fixed-term prisoner has an automatic release date which is imminent, making it impractical to hold a hearing,

the case must not be directed to an oral hearing unless the panel is of the opinion that there are exceptional circumstances to justify an oral hearing.”.

(3) In rule 20 (procedure after a provisional decision on the papers), after paragraph (5) insert—

“(5A) Where the case is one in which—

(a)a prisoner is under investigation for a new criminal offence which is relevant to the prisoner’s risk,

(b)a prisoner has been charged with a new criminal offence which is relevant to the prisoner’s risk and the charge has not yet been resolved, or

(c)a fixed-term prisoner has an automatic release date which is imminent making it impractical to hold a hearing,

a duty member making a decision under paragraph (5) must not direct the case to an oral hearing unless the duty member is of the opinion that there are exceptional circumstances to justify an oral hearing.”.