Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)

Part I U.K. Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure

[F1 Transfer of criminal proceedings U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 27A and cross-heading inserted (1.4.2005) after s. 27 by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 46(1), 110; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(p)

27A Power to transfer criminal proceedings E+W

(1) Where a person appears or is brought before a magistrates' court—

(a) to be tried by the court for an offence, or

(b) for the court to inquire into the offence as examining justices,

the court may transfer the matter to another magistrates' court.

(2) The court may transfer the matter before or after beginning the trial or inquiry.

(3) But if the court transfers the matter after it has begun to hear the evidence and the parties, the court to which the matter is transferred must begin hearing the evidence and the parties again.

(4) The power of the court under this section to transfer any matter must be exercised in accordance with any directions given under section 30(3) of the Courts Act 2003.

X1 F2 28] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Editorial Information

X1 The insertion of the new crossheading "Transfer of criminal proceedings" on 1.4.2005 gives rise to a change in the structure of this legislation on SLD which breaks the continuity of historical versions of the existing provisions which are now brought under that new heading.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 28 repealed (4.7.1996 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 39 of the repealing Act) by 1996 c. 25, ss. 44, 47, 80, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 6, Sch. 5 table10 (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)