Fourth Amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2023 – November 2025

The Lady Chief Justice has issued the fourth amendment to the Criminal Practice Directions 2023 which includes changes to chapter 7 (Expert Evidence) of the Practice Directions. These amendments:

(a) require the disclosure in an expert report of any authoritative advice or warning relevant to the content of the report;
(b) require the disclosure in an expert report of any past adverse finding or disciplinary proceeding, even if since resolved; and
(c) ensure the compatibility of the declarations of compliance required by (i) the Criminal Practice Directions, and (ii) the Forensic Science Regulator’s statutory code of practice.

Members who act in criminal proceedings should review the amendments to chapter 7 and comply with them once they come into force on 18 November 2025. Do not forget to update the declarations of compliance in any report templates you use and download the revised EWI template for use from 18 November 2025.