Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC) Application
If you believe that you have been wrongly convicted of a criminal offence, or wrongly sentenced, as long as you were convicted in a criminal court in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can apply to the CCRC to refer your case to a court of appeal.
If you have already appealed your conviction or sentence unsuccessfully, you may be able to apply to the CCRC for your case to be reviewed. The CCRC is not an appeal court, but it has statutory powers to refer qualifying cases back to the appropriate appeal court.
Draycott Browne have a proven track record of success when it comes to lodging applications with the CCRC. If this is the right route for you, we will advise and work with you to ensure that your application gives you the highest possible chance of success.
Legal costs associated with CCRC appeals & applications
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is a public, Government-funded body that does not charge a fee for applications. However, applicants should be aware of any legal costs associated with the process of making an application.
Currently, Draycott Browne is unable to offer legal representation in a CCRC appeal through the Legal Aid scheme. All of the work that we undertake in this area is privately funded. Contact us if you would like to discuss funding options and pricing for CCRC appeals.
Who are the CCRC?
The CCRC is the Criminal Cases Review Commission, an independent body set up to investigate cases where it is suspected that there has been a miscarriage of justice.
The Commission are completely impartial and have the power to obtain information from public bodies to further investigate your case. Their aim is to “investigate and identify potential miscarriages of justice and, in doing so, promote public confidence in the criminal justice system.”
What can the CCRC do for you?
The CCRC reviews convictions and sentences where there may have been a miscarriage of justice. It can investigate the case, obtain material that may not previously have been available and decide whether the statutory test for referral to an appeal court is met.
Under section 13 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, the CCRC can normally refer a case where it considers there is a real possibility that the conviction, finding or sentence would not be upheld if it were referred to the relevant appeal court.
What do you need to have your case reviewed by the CCRC?
If you have not appealed in the usual way through the courts, the CCRC will ask you to appeal in the normal way first, before applying to them. If you have lost an appeal and now want to apply to the CCRC, applications need to be made in writing using the CCRC’s application form. You can fill in this form yourself, but it is strongly recommended that you work with a solicitor; the review process can be complicated and it’s important at this stage to give yourself the best chance of success.
Applicants should normally have used the ordinary appeal process before applying to the CCRC. If you have not appealed, the CCRC will usually expect you to do so first, although it can consider a case without a previous appeal where exceptional circumstances justify this. The CCRC will not normally consider a case without solid grounds for a fresh appeal – disagreeing with the outcome of a trial is not in itself a reason to appeal. This means that unless new evidence has come to light since the original trial, or a whole new argument that has the potential to impact your case has since surfaced, the CCRC are unlikely to consider your case. The CCRC refers very few cases along so you need to ensure that applying is the right course of action, and that you maximise the chance of your appeal being successful.
The right solicitor will do everything that they can for you – they will help you to determine in the first instance whether applying to the CCRC is the right course of action for you. If they are confident that your application stands a good chance, they will help you to go through the evidence and to present your application. Draycott Browne employ expert solicitors who understand the CCRC application process and will give you the best chance to appeal your sentence or conviction.
What powers do the CCRC have?
Under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, the CCRC can require public bodies to provide documents and other material relevant to its review. This can include material held by the police, Crown Prosecution Service, local authorities and other public bodies, including material that may not previously have been disclosed to the defence.
Under section 18A, the CCRC can also apply to the Crown Court for an order requiring a private person or organisation to provide material. It may also interview witnesses, obtain expert evidence and carry out other investigations where necessary.
What if the CCRC think I have a good case?
If the CCRC think that there is a good chance that your conviction was unsafe and could be quashed, or that the sentence that you have been given could be changed, based on new evidence available, they will refer you back to an appeal court for re-examination. They will prepare a Statement of Reasons, outlining their reasons for doing so, and will give a copy to anyone who is likely to be involved in the proceedings. They also often issue a press release identifying the case and including their reasons for the referral.
The case will then be referred back and treated as any other criminal appeal. The CCRC may also share your details with a charity called the Miscarriage of Justice Support Service, who offer help to people who have been wrongly convicted.
Historically, a significant proportion of cases referred by the CCRC have resulted in successful appeals. CCRC figures to July 2026 record 622 successful appeals from 884 referred cases that had been heard by the courts.
Where are appeals heard?
Where your appeal is heard will depend on where you were originally convicted and/or sentenced. If you were sentenced or convicted in a Magistrates’ Court, your appeal will be heard in the Crown Court. If you were convicted or sentenced in the Crown Court, your appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal.
Is there a time limit on applying to the CCRC?
There is no time limit on applying to the CCRC. However, if your case is very old it can be more difficult, as papers and evidence may have been destroyed, and witnesses may no longer be available.
How long will it take?
The time required for a CCRC review depends on the complexity of the case and the investigation needed. Some straightforward reviews can be completed within weeks or months, while complex cases can take considerably longer.
The CCRC aims to complete at least 85% of cases within 12 months of receiving an application, although individual timescales vary and particularly complex investigations may take longer.
How can Draycott Browne help?
Having solid, experienced defence solicitors on your side can make all the difference to the potential success of your application to the CCRC. We will work with you to make sure that we fully understand all the aspects of your situation, collating evidence and formulating a strong and compelling application. We have a proven track record of gaining successful outcomes for criminal appeals, using our knowledge and experience to guide you through every step of the process.
Contact our CCRC Appeal Solicitors
The CCRC Lawyers at Draycott Browne, are widely recognised as one of the North of England's leading team of criminal lawyers with specialist Criminal Case Review Commission expertise.
If you require the skills and knowledge of one of the leading Criminal Defence Law Firms, contact us today. If you would like us to contact you, simply fill in our online enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.
We are highly regarded nationally across the legal profession, and noted for consistently delivering positive results. Our team possess a breadth of technical knowledge and experience of the CCRC and will provide you with the expertise needed throughout the process.
Our team regularly act for clients in London and throughout Midlands and of course the North West including clients from Birmingham and Liverpool. By entrusting us, you can be assured that you will be working with a team of highly skilled and experienced CCRC Lawyers who have a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the law.
Our legal team is available 7 days a week. For expert legal advice or representation, call Draycott Browne today on the number at the top of this page
When you are facing the stiffest challenge, you cannot afford to settle for anything less than Draycott Browne, one of the nation's leading Criminal Defence Law Firms.