Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026

UK New Legislation

Published March 4th, 2026

Detected March 4th, 2026

Summary

The UK Ministry of Justice has issued the Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026, effective March 4, 2026. These rules remove paragraph (1ZA) from rule 19 of the Parole Board Rules 2019, which previously created a presumption for decisions to be made on the papers.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The UK Ministry of Justice, through the Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026, has removed paragraph (1ZA) from rule 19 of the Parole Board Rules 2019. This paragraph had established a presumption that parole decisions would be made based on submitted documents, allowing for departure to an oral hearing only in exceptional circumstances. The amendment also revokes the Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/129).

This change effectively removes the presumption for paper-based parole decisions, meaning panels may be more inclined to direct oral hearings without the need to demonstrate exceptional circumstances. Regulated entities, specifically those involved in the parole process in England and Wales, should be aware of this procedural shift. No significant impact on private, voluntary, or public sectors is foreseen, and no specific compliance deadline or penalties are mentioned.

What to do next

Review updated Parole Board Rules 2019 regarding rule 19
Adjust internal procedures for parole case preparation and representation

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 204

PRISONS, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Parole Board (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026

Made

at 10.30 a.m. on 3rd March 2026

Laid before Parliament

at 4.30 p.m. on 3rd March 2026

Coming into force

4th March 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by section 239(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003(1).

Citation, commencement and extent

—(1) These Rules may be cited as the Parole Board (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2026.

(2) These Rules come into force on 4th March 2026.

(3) These Rules extend to England and Wales.

Amendment to the Parole Board Rules 2019

In rule 19 (consideration on the papers) of the Parole Board Rules 2019(2), omit paragraph (1ZA).

Revocation

The Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026(3) are revoked.

Levitt

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Ministry of Justice

at 10.30 a.m. on 3rd March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

Rule 2 removes paragraph (1ZA) of rule 19 which creates a presumption that in certain cases, the panel will make a decision on the papers, but the panel is able to depart from this and direct that a case should be directed to an oral hearing where there are exceptional circumstances to justify it.

Rule 3 revokes the Parole Board (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/129) which made further amendments to, and in consequence of, paragraph (1ZA) of rule 19.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

(1) 2003 c. 44.

(2) S.I. 2019/1038; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2022/717, S.I. 2024/1011, and S.I. 2025/1231.

(3) S.I. 2026/129.