It has long been the case that Defendants appearing in criminal proceedings in Court are required to confirm their identity by way of their name, and usually also their date of birth, at the outset of a hearing. However new identity rules will be imposed from today, 13 November 2017.

Defendants will be required to confirm their nationality to the Court when required to do so “at any stage of proceedings”.

Failure to do so without a reasonable excuse, can be punishable as a separate offence.

For more information about these changes and other identity rules, contact the Magistrates Court teams at your nearest office.

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