The Sheriffdoms (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1996

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Sheriffdoms (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1996 and shall come into force on 1st April 1996.

(2) In this Order—

“local authority area” means the area of a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994(1);

“ward” means an electoral ward specified by the Secretary of State in a direction made under paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 for the purposes of the elections held under section 5(2) of that Act.

Alteration of boundaries of sheriffdoms

2.—(1) On 1st April 1996, the boundaries of the sheriffdoms of—

(a) Glasgow and Strathkelvin; and

(b) South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway,

shall be altered so that each of those sheriffdoms shall on and after that date comprise the area specified in column 2 of the Schedule to this Order opposite the name of the sheriffdom in question (as specified in column 1 of that Schedule).

(2) The other four sheriffdoms formed under the Sheriffdoms Reorganisation Order 1974(2) shall continue in existence after 31st March 1996 without alteration of their boundaries and each shall accordingly comprise the area specified in column 2 of the Schedule to this Order opposite the name of the sheriffdom in question (as specified in column 1 of that Schedule).

Transitional provisions

3.—(1) Paragraph (2) below applies in respect of a sheriff court located in a sheriffdom whose boundaries are altered in accordance with article 2(1) above.

(2) All procedure in, or incidental proceedings arising out of, any proceedings in a sheriff court to which this paragraph applies which as at 1st April 1996 were either pending or had been concluded shall be conducted in and be deemed to be within the jurisdiction of the sheriff of the sheriffdom in which is located the place where the court was held in which these proceedings were pending or had been conducted.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) above, in criminal proceedings jurisdiction to try any offence which has been committed prior to 1st April 1996 may be exercised either by a court in which the offence could have been tried before that date or by a court of the sheriffdom in which is situated the place where the offence was committed.

Revocation

4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, the Sheriffdoms Reorganisation Order 1974 is hereby revoked.

(2) Paragraph (1) above shall not affect the amendment of section 1(4) of the Commonwealth Secretariat Act 1966(3) made by Schedule II to the Order referred to in that paragraph.

James Douglas-Hamilton

Minister of State, Scottish Office

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

29th March 1996