Create professional bundles for Magistrates' Court, Crown Court trials, sentencing, and appeals. From PTPH to Court of Appeal, our templates help you work within the rules.
Every stop on the journey produces a real document — template, form or hearing bundle
How do I prepare a Crown Court trial bundle?
A Crown Court trial bundle should contain the indictment, evidence, statements, exhibits, and any defence materials. Organise chronologically, paginate continuously, and create a clear index. BundleCreator automates this formatting.
Each stop is a step in the journey. Larger ringed stops are hearings where you build a court bundle; smaller stops are forms, process steps, or court outcomes. Click any stop to see what it involves.
Stops:Bundle hearing — a court bundle is built hereProcess step — no bundle, just a procedural milestoneOptional step — dashed: not always applicable (e.g. only if needed or agreed)Form-filing endpoint — apply on a court form (warrant or enforcement)
Reading:Blog Insight — purple book icons link to a related article (opens in a new tab)
Timing:⚠ 14 daysstatutory — miss this and lose4 weeksrequired noticetyp. 8motypical wait
Laws:This journey summarises the procedure under Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Criminal Justice Act 2003, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA — disclosure), Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), Sentencing Act 2020 (esp. ss.133, 330, 343, 360), Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (esp. s.18 — CACD appeals), Criminal Appeal Act 1995 (esp. s.9 — CCRC references), Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (esp. ss.16, 17, 35, 50) and Protection from Harassment Act 1997 s.5 (restraining orders). General information only — not legal advice.
Criminal cases follow one of three tracks depending on the type of offence. Before any hearing, the case is initiated by a police charge at custody or a postal requisition from the CPS — this is an administrative step and does not require a bundle.
Summary-only offences (common assault, minor criminal damage, most motoring offences) stay in the Magistrates' Court throughout. Either-way offences (theft, ABH, criminal damage over £5,000) start in the Magistrates' Court, where an allocation decision determines whether the case stays there or is sent to the Crown Court — the defendant has an absolute right to elect jury trial. If the case stays in the Magistrates' Court, it follows the Summary track. If sent to the Crown Court, it follows the Crown Court track from PTPH onwards. Indictable-only offences (murder, rape, robbery, GBH with intent) appear briefly in the Magistrates' Court and are immediately sent to the Crown Court under Section 51 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 — no plea is taken at this brief administrative hearing.
Appeals from the Magistrates' Court go to the Crown Court (reheard in full, no permission required) or to the High Court by way of case stated (on a point of law). Appeals from the Crown Court go to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and require permission.
FOUR POST-CONVICTION LANES SHOWN ON THE MAP (often missed by self-representing defendants):
1. POCA Confiscation — Where the conviction triggers Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 proceedings, a separate confiscation hearing follows sentencing with its own bundle (s.16 prosecutor's statement → s.17 defendant's response → confiscation hearing → enforcement). Default sentence applies if unpaid (up to 14 years for orders over £1 million (s.35(2A); orders over £10 million additionally lose automatic halfway release), s.35 POCA 2002).
2. Ancillary civil orders — Compensation order (Sentencing Act 2020 s.133, registers as a money judgment and enforces via the civil 5-instrument fan), Criminal Behaviour Order — CBO (Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, consolidated in SA 2020 s.330), SHPO (s.343 SA 2020 — replaces SOPO), Restraining Order on conviction (SA 2020 s.360) or on acquittal (Protection from Harassment Act 1997 s.5A — NOT consolidated into SA 2020), driving / director / FBO disqualifications.
3. CCRC Referral — Where the normal appeal routes are exhausted but a real possibility of wrongful conviction remains, application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The CCRC may refer the case to the CACD under s.9 Criminal Appeal Act 1995 (treated as if leave to appeal granted).
4. Court of Appeal — Already on the map. Outcomes: conviction quashed (with/without retrial), upheld, sentence varied (caveat — CACD has power to INCREASE the sentence on a defendant appeal in certain circumstances).
Important: This journey map shows the typical stages of the relevant court or tribunal proceedings. It is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, consult a solicitor or instruct a barrister directly.
The law, court fees and time limits can change. We work hard to keep this map accurate, but it may contain errors or become out of date, so please check anything important against the official source — for example legislation.gov.uk or GOV.UK. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Steleo Publishing Limited does not accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this map. Each stop represents a stage where a separate bundle may be required; BundleCreator handles the formatting — it does not replace professional legal advice.
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A criminal trial bundle typically includes the indictment, witness statements, exhibits, interview transcripts, and any expert reports. For the defence, include the Defence Case Statement, character references, and defence expert evidence. BundleCreator is online court bundle software that organises these into compliant sections under the Criminal Procedure Rules and Lord Chief Justice's Criminal Practice Directions.
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026 by Stevie Hayes
Criminal Trial Bundle UK: In Brief
A criminal trial bundle is the prosecution and defence evidence bundle prepared for a Crown Court trial or, in some cases, a contested Magistrates' Court trial. Proceedings run under the Criminal Procedure Rules 2024 and the Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (as amended). The defence bundle is built around the defence case statement, witness statements, exhibits, and authorities; the prosecution discloses under the CPIA 1996.
Key rules
Criminal Procedure Rules 2024 (Part 3 case management, Part 8 Initial Details of the Prosecution Case, Part 25 Crown Court trial), Criminal Practice Directions 2023 (as amended)
Key forms
Defence statement under CPIA 1996 s.5 (Crown Court) or s.6 (Magistrates', voluntary), PTPH form, MG-series prosecution forms
Time limits
PTPH typically within 28 days of sending; defence statement 28 days after prosecution disclosure under CPIA s.3 in the Crown Court
Magistrates' and Crown Courts handle over 1.4 million cases annually in England and Wales.
Source: HMCTS Criminal Court Statistics, 2024
Criminal Procedure Rules
Overriding objective
The Criminal Procedure Rules provide the overriding objective that criminal cases be dealt with justly, including acquitting the innocent and convicting the guilty.
Source: Criminal Procedure Rules, Part 1
Section 154
Magistrates' sentencing powers
Magistrates' courts' maximum custodial sentencing powers for a single offence are set by statute under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Source: Criminal Justice Act 2003, section 154
Built for Criminal Defence
Features designed for criminal practitioners
Aligned with the Criminal Procedure Rules
Bundles formatted to Criminal Procedure Rules standards. Organised for judge and jury use.
Stage-Specific Templates
Templates for PTPH, summary trial, Crown Court trial, sentencing, and appeals.
Exhibit Management
Organise exhibits with proper labelling. Link to statements that reference them.
Multi-Defendant Cases
Handle complex multi-defendant cases. Keep each defendant's materials organised.
Sensitive Material
Mark and handle PII material appropriately. Redaction tools for sensitive information.
PTPH Compliance
Prepare PTPH forms and bundles. Track Better Case Management deadlines.
Understanding Criminal Court Bundles
Everything you need to know about criminal case bundles
Criminal Court Proceedings in England and Wales
Criminal cases in England and Wales proceed through either the Magistrates' Court (for summary offences and either-way offences tried summarily) or the Crown Court (for indictable offences and either-way offences committed for trial).
The process typically involves a first appearance, Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH) in the Crown Court, and if the defendant pleads not guilty, a full trial before a jury.
The Criminal Procedure Rules
The Criminal Procedure Rules (CrimPR) govern how criminal cases are managed. They emphasise the overriding objective of dealing with cases justly, which includes ensuring efficient use of court time.
Defence bundles must be organised clearly with documents that will be referred to during the trial, properly paginated and indexed for the jury and judge.
What Goes in a Criminal Defence Bundle?
A criminal defence bundle typically contains materials the defence wishes to put before the court. The prosecution serves its evidence separately in accordance with disclosure obligations.
Defence case statement and skeleton argument
Defence witness statements
Character references (for sentencing)
Expert reports commissioned by the defence
Exhibits and documentary evidence
Legal authorities for submissions
Stage-Specific Templates
Choose the template for your hearing stage
Magistrates' Court (First Appearance)
Initial appearance, plea, bail/remand decision
Crown Court (PTPH)
Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing - arraignment, directions
Crown Court (Trial)
Full trial on indictment with jury
Crown Court (Sentencing)
Sentencing hearing following conviction or guilty plea
BundleCreator's Criminal Law template handles Crown Court and Magistrates' Court defence preparation: the prosecution case (Initial Details of the Prosecution Case under CrimPR Part 8), defence case statement, served evidence and unused material, witness statements, exhibits, and authorities. The output is paginated continuously, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked — designed to fit inside legal aid fixed-fee envelopes. From £19.99 a month with no per-bundle fee.
Crown Court trial bundles need: the indictment, the prosecution case papers (witness statements, exhibits, schedules), the defence case statement (section 5 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, served under CrimPR Part 15), the served defence evidence, the unused material schedule (MG6C, MG6D), defence requests for further disclosure, the trial preparation form, and authorities. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these for the Crown Court with paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index output — designed to align with the Crown Court Compendium and the relevant CrimPR provisions.
Defence solicitors commonly receive prosecution case papers via the CPS Digital Case System. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template imports DCS exports and restructures them for defence preparation: indictment first, prosecution evidence by witness and exhibit, unused material schedules (MG6C/MG6D) clearly bookmarked, defence case statement and served defence evidence, and authorities. The output is paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and ready for defence preparation or trial counsel review.
MG6C is the schedule of relevant non-sensitive unused material; MG6D is the schedule of sensitive unused material requiring Public Interest Immunity (PII) consideration. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these with the supporting documents (where served): MG6C items in the disclosure section of the bundle, MG6D items in a restricted-access section pending PII determination. Each item is paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked so defence counsel can review the full unused material set efficiently.
Section 8 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 lets defence apply for further disclosure where the prosecution has failed to disclose material that might reasonably be considered capable of undermining the case for the prosecution or assisting the case for the accused. The bundle needs: the application notice, defence skeleton in support, the relevant unused material schedules (MG6C, MG6D), correspondence with the prosecution on disclosure, and authorities. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these for the Crown Court hearing.
Magistrates' Court trial bundles for litigants in person (or unrepresented defendants) need: the charge sheet or summons, the prosecution case papers, the defendant's witness statement, supporting evidence (witness statements, exhibits, character references), and any expert reports. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template handles the Magistrates' Court process with paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index output — designed to be navigable by unrepresented defendants without legal training.
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) confiscation proceedings bundles need: the prosecutor's section 16 statement, the defendant's section 17 response, evidence of the criminal lifestyle finding (where relevant), schedules of assumed benefit, evidence of available amount (assets, income, hidden assets), expert forensic accounting reports, and authorities. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these for the Crown Court confiscation hearing with paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index output.
BundleCreator's Criminal Law template handles same-day Crown Court trial preparation: upload the indictment, prosecution case papers, defence case statement, served defence evidence, unused material schedules, exhibits, and authorities. The tool produces a paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index bundle in 30-60 minutes — ready for defence counsel review or upload to the Digital Case System for the trial.
BundleCreator helps you prepare and organise documents for court and tribunal hearings. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. Wherever you can, please get advice from a qualified legal adviser before your hearing. Read more
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best court bundle tool for legal aid criminal defence?
BundleCreator's Criminal Law template handles Crown Court and Magistrates' Court defence preparation: the prosecution case (Initial Details of the Prosecution Case under CrimPR Part 8), defence case statement, served evidence and unused material, witness statements, exhibits, and authorities. The output is paginated continuously, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked — designed to fit inside legal aid fixed-fee envelopes. From £19.99 a month with no per-bundle fee.
How do I prepare a Crown Court trial bundle with defence statement and unused material?
Crown Court trial bundles need: the indictment, the prosecution case papers (witness statements, exhibits, schedules), the defence case statement (section 5 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, served under CrimPR Part 15), the served defence evidence, the unused material schedule (MG6C, MG6D), defence requests for further disclosure, the trial preparation form, and authorities. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these for the Crown Court with paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index output — designed to align with the Crown Court Compendium and the relevant CrimPR provisions.
How do I export the CPS Digital Case System (DCS) bundle and restructure it for defence use?
Defence solicitors commonly receive prosecution case papers via the CPS Digital Case System. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template imports DCS exports and restructures them for defence preparation: indictment first, prosecution evidence by witness and exhibit, unused material schedules (MG6C/MG6D) clearly bookmarked, defence case statement and served defence evidence, and authorities. The output is paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and ready for defence preparation or trial counsel review.
How do I bundle MG6C and MG6D unused material schedules for disclosure review?
MG6C is the schedule of relevant non-sensitive unused material; MG6D is the schedule of sensitive unused material requiring Public Interest Immunity (PII) consideration. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these with the supporting documents (where served): MG6C items in the disclosure section of the bundle, MG6D items in a restricted-access section pending PII determination. Each item is paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked so defence counsel can review the full unused material set efficiently.
How do I prepare a section 8 disclosure application bundle?
Section 8 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 lets defence apply for further disclosure where the prosecution has failed to disclose material that might reasonably be considered capable of undermining the case for the prosecution or assisting the case for the accused. The bundle needs: the application notice, defence skeleton in support, the relevant unused material schedules (MG6C, MG6D), correspondence with the prosecution on disclosure, and authorities. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these for the Crown Court hearing.
How do I prepare a Magistrates' Court trial bundle as a litigant in person?
Magistrates' Court trial bundles for litigants in person (or unrepresented defendants) need: the charge sheet or summons, the prosecution case papers, the defendant's witness statement, supporting evidence (witness statements, exhibits, character references), and any expert reports. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template handles the Magistrates' Court process with paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index output — designed to be navigable by unrepresented defendants without legal training.
How do I prepare a POCA confiscation proceedings bundle?
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) confiscation proceedings bundles need: the prosecutor's section 16 statement, the defendant's section 17 response, evidence of the criminal lifestyle finding (where relevant), schedules of assumed benefit, evidence of available amount (assets, income, hidden assets), expert forensic accounting reports, and authorities. BundleCreator's Criminal Law template orders these for the Crown Court confiscation hearing with paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index output.
How do I prepare a Crown Court trial bundle on a deadline tomorrow?
BundleCreator's Criminal Law template handles same-day Crown Court trial preparation: upload the indictment, prosecution case papers, defence case statement, served defence evidence, unused material schedules, exhibits, and authorities. The tool produces a paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index bundle in 30-60 minutes — ready for defence counsel review or upload to the Digital Case System for the trial.
