The Central Criminal Court is to be withdrawn from a pilot scheme trialling court forms brought in under the new Criminal Procedure Rules (CrPR) after opposition from the bar.

At a meeting on Monday, 250 barristers who practise frequently at the Old Bailey voted not to take part unless the pilot was properly funded.


The CrPR, which came into force earlier this month, replaced plea and direction hearings with plea and case management hearings. These require counsel to do substantial preparatory work for which they will receive no payment, other than the £100 appearance fee, if they are unable to conduct the trial. Pilot funding schemes planned for two other courts - Nottingham and Preston Crown Courts - will continue.


Timothy Dutton QC, leader of the South Eastern Circuit, said: 'There is a strong feeling among practitioners that the point has been reached where the bar is being asked to do more work with no pay.'


A spokeswoman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said it was having discussions with the bar over the Preston and Nottingham pilots.