Statutory guidance

The Parole Board rules 2019 as amended in 2025

The Parole Board Rules were introduced on 22 July 2019 and apply to all parole cases referred to the Parole Board on or after that date.

From:
Parole Board
Published
8 January 2025

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Parole Board Rules 2019 (as amended in 2025)

PDF, 348 KB, 33 pages

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Details

The Parole Board Rules 2019 came into force on 22 July 2019. Since then, they have been amended several times by:

List of relevant changes following the Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2025:

  • Rule 2: Introduces a definition of “victim” to support other amendments to rule 14 
  • Rule 4: Widens the remit for delegated functions 
  • Rule 6: Introduces the power to withhold information or reports from witnesses or other hearing attendees (outside of rule 17) 
  • Rule 14: Harmonises the time limit for representations for all observer applications, and introduces the presumption in favour of allowing victims (including non-Victim Contact Scheme victims) to observe parole hearings  
  • Rule 17: Several amendments to address gaps in the existing rule, place CLOSED proceeding practice on the face of the rules, and improve overall efficiency of applications and decision-making  
  • Rule 19: Introduces a presumption of a paper decision in certain cases 
  • Rule 20: Confirms that the test to be applied will no longer be only whether fairness requires an oral hearing (the existing Osborn criteria). Panels will also now have to consider, in certain cases, whether there are exceptional circumstances that justify an oral hearing being directed, over and above the requirements of fairness 
  • Rule 27: Introduces redacted decisions into the rules, in light of one of the Transparency Review recommendations 
  • Rule 28(A): “Error of law” has been removed as a ground for setting aside a final decision and removes the ability to apply to set aside a no release decision 
  • Rule 32: Introduces the power to refer release decisions to the High Court in certain cases (Parole Referral Mechanism)

The majority of the provisions came into force on Tuesday 16 December 2025, except the High Court Referral Power which will come into force on Wednesday 31 December 2025.  

We have consolidated the Parole Board Rules with the relevant changes following the amendment to the Rules which can be found attached.

Updates to this page

Published 8 January 2025

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