Interpretation Act 1978

In relation to England and Wales—

(a)“indictable offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable on indictment, whether it is exclusively so triable or triable either way;

(b)“summary offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is triable only summarily;

(c)“offence triable either way” means an offence [F1, other than an offence triable on indictment only by virtue of Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1988] which, if committed by an adult, is triable either on indictment or summarily;

and the terms “indictable”, “summary” and “triable either way”, in their application to offences, are to be construed accordingly.

Textual Amendments