Part 2: Courts, tribunals and coroners Chapter 1: Criminal procedure Section 15: Removal of certain requirements for hearings about procedural matters
Section 15 will allow the Crown Court to determine an application for a witness summons in criminal proceedings without a hearing. It also removes certain statutory requirements in criminal proceedings for the court to hold a hearing before lifting reporting restrictions. Although the court will continue to have the option of convening a hearing in all these circumstances, the amendments will enable the court to make a decision ‘on the papers’ without a hearing, where satisfied that this is appropriate.
	Subsection (1) amends section 2(8)(d) of the Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) Act 1965 to allow the Crown Court to determine an application for a witness summons in criminal proceedings on the papers.
	Subsection (2) to (7) amend nine provisions to enable courts in England and Wales to consider written representations rather than have to hear oral representations from an accused person who objects to the lifting of reporting restrictions imposed in relation to:
	a. a pre-trial ruling by a magistrates’ court;
	b. a preparatory hearing in a complex or serious fraud case or an appeal arising from such a hearing;
	c. a preparatory hearing in a complex, serious or lengthy case, or an appeal arising from such a hearing;
	d. a pre-trial ruling in a case which is to be tried on indictment;
	e. allocation or sending proceedings;
	f. an application for dismissal of a charge in a case which has been sent to the Crown Court for trial;
	g. a special measures direction in relation to a vulnerable or intimidated witness;
	h. a direction for a vulnerable accused to give evidence through a live link; and
	i. a direction prohibiting an accused person from cross-examining a witness in person.