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Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

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Changes over time for: Section 1

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Version Superseded: 15/09/2011

Status:

Point in time view as at 25/05/2011. This version of this provision has been superseded. Help about Status

Changes to legislation:

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, Section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 08 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

1 Issue of summons to accused or warrant for his arrest.E+W

[F1(1)On an information being laid before a justice of the peace that a person has, or is suspected of having, committed an offence, the justice may issue—

(a)a summons directed to that person requiring him to appear before a magistrates' court to answer the information, or

(b)a warrant to arrest that person and bring him before a magistrates' court.]

(2)F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)No warrant shall be issued under this section unless the information is in writing F3. . . .

(4)No warrant shall be issued under this section for the arrest of any person who has attained [F4 the age of 18 years] unless—

(a)the offence to which the warrant relates is an indictable offence or is punishable with imprisonment, or

(b)the person’s address is not sufficiently established for a summons to be served on him.

(5)F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)Where the offence charged is an indictable offence, a warrant under this section may be issued at any time notwithstanding that a summons has previously been issued.

(7)A justice of the peace may issue a summons or warrant under this section upon an information being laid before him notwithstanding any enactment requiring the information to be laid before two or more justices.

(8)F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 1(3) omitted (29.1.2004) by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. {31(1)}, 336; S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(d) and the same words repealed (15.12.2004) by s. 332, {Sch. 37 Part. 12} of that Act; S.I. 2004/3033, art. 3(2)(e)(ii)

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