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Criminal Law Act 1977

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Criminal Law Act 1977 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

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  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Conspiracy

    1. 1. The offence of conspiracy.

    2. 1A. Conspiracy to commit offences outside England and Wales .

    3. 2. Exemptions from liability for conspiracy.

    4. 3. Penalties for conspiracy.

    5. 4. Restrictions on the institution of proceedings for conspiracy.

    6. 5. Abolitions, savings, transitional provisions, consequential amendment and repeals.

  3. Part II Offences Relating to Entering and Remaining on Property

    1. 6. Violence for securing entry.

    2. 7. Adverse occupation of residential premises.

    3. 8. Trespassing with a weapon of offence.

    4. 9. Trespassing on premises of foreign missions, etc.

    5. 10. Obstruction of enforcement officers and court officers executing High Court or county court process .

    6. 11.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    7. 12. Supplementary provisions.

    8. 12A. Protected intending occupiers: supplementary provisions.

    9. 13. Abolitions and repeals.

  4. Part III Criminal Procedure, Penalties, etc.

    1. 14.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. Allocation of offences to classes as regards mode of trial

      1. 15. Offences which are to become triable only summarily.

      2. 16.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      3. 17. Offence which is to become triable only on indictment.

      4. 18—26.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    3. Penalties

      1. 27.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 28. Penalties on summary conviction for offences triable either way.

      3. 29.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 30. Penalties (and mode of trial) for offences made triable only summarily.

      5. 31. Increase of fines for certain summary offences.

      6. 32. Other provisions as to maximum fines.

      7. 33. Penalty for offences under section 3 of Explosive Substances Act 1883.

    4. Young offenders

      1. 34, 35.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 36. Enforcement of fines imposed on young offenders.

      3. 37. Supervision orders.

    5. Cross-border enforcement

      1. 38. Execution throughout United Kingdom of warrants of arrest.

      2. 38A. Execution in different parts of United Kingdom of warrants for imprisonment for non-payment of fine.

      3. 38B. Further provision for execution of warrants of commitment for non-payment of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction in England and Wales or Northern Ireland.

      4. 39. Service of summonses and citation throughout United Kingdom.

      5. 40. Transfer of fine orders.

    6. Other provisions

      1. 41, 42.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      2. 43.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      3. 44. Appeals against conviction.

      4. 45.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      5. 46. Committal for sentence for offences tried summarily.

      6. 47. Prison sentence partly served and partly suspended.

      7. 48. Power to make rules as to furnishing of information by prosecutor in criminal proceedings.

      8. 49. Power to order search of persons before Crown Court.

  5. Part IV Miscellaneous Provisions

    1. 50.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    2. 51. Bomb hoaxes.

    3. 52. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: redefinition of cannabis.

    4. 53. Amendments of Obscene Publications Act 1959 with respect to cinematograph exhibitions.

    5. 54. Inciting girl under sixteen to have incestuous sexual intercourse.

    6. 55.(1) . . . . . . . . ....

    7. 56.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    8. 57. Probation and conditional discharge: power to vary statutory minimum or maximum period.

    9. 58. Proceedings involving persons under 17: increase of certain pecuniary limits.

    10. 59—61.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    11. 62.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  6. Part V Provisions applying to Scotland

    1. 63. Provisions applying to Scotland.

  7. Part VI Supplementary

    1. 64. Meaning of “indictable offence”, “summary offence” and “offence triable either way” in England and Wales.

    2. 65. Citation, etc.

  8. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Offences Made Triable Only Summarily, and Related Amendments

    2. SCHEDULES 2—4

      . . .

    3. SCHEDULE 5

      Alteration of Penalties on Summary Conviction of Certain Offences Triable Either Way

      1. 1.(1) The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 shall be amended...

      2. 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

    4. Schedule 6

      Increase of fines for certain summary offences

    5. SCHEDULE 7

      Transfer of Fine Orders

      1. 1.. . . . . . . . . ....

      2. Scotland

        1. 2.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        2. 3.. . . . . . . . . ....

    6. SCHEDULE 8

      . . .

    7. SCHEDULE 9

      Matters Ancillary to Section 47

      1. Probation orders

        1. 1.Where a court makes an order under section 47(1) above...

      2. Courts competent to restore sentence held in suspense

        1. 2.(1) In relation to a sentence of imprisonment part of...

      3. Recall of offender on re-conviction

        1. 3.(1) If it appears to the Crown Court, where that...

      4. Consecutive sentences of imprisonment

        1. 3A.(1) This paragraph applies where— (a) an offender is serving...

      5. Miscellaneous (procedural)

        1. 4.Where the offender is before the Crown Court with a...

        2. 5.Where the offender has been before a court with a...

        3. 6.For the purposes of any enactment conferring rights of appeal...

      6. Miscellaneous (consequential)

        1. 7.Subject to section 60(1C) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967...

        2. 8.Where an offender is sentenced to imprisonment with an order...

        3. 9.In section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 (prohibition on...

        4. 10.In section 67 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 (computation...

        5. 11.In section 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974...

    8. SCHEDULE 10

      . . .

    9. SCHEDULE 11

      Amendments of Criminal Procedure (Scotland Act) 1975]

      1. 1.There shall be inserted after section 193 a new section...

      2. 2.There shall be inserted after section 283 a new section...

      3. 3.. . . . . . . . . ....

      4. 4.(1) In section 289(a), for “£150” there shall be substituted...

      5. 5.There shall be inserted after section 289 new sections as...

      6. 6.. . . . . . . . . ....

      7. 7.For section 394(b) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—...

      8. 8.In section 397(1) for the words “or under section 72A...

      9. 9.In section 414(1) after the word “convicted” there shall be...

      10. 10.In section 462, in the interpretation of “fine” there shall...

      11. 11—13.. . . . . . . . . ....

    10. SCHEDULE 12

      Minor and Consequential Amendments

      1. NIGHT POACHING ACT 1828 (C. 69)

        1. 1.In section 2 (assaults by persons committing offences under the...

        2. 2.In section 9 (entering land, with others, armed and for...

      2. METROPOLITAN POLICE COURTS ACT 1839 (C. 71)

        1. Section 24 (offence of possessing stolen goods without a satisfactory...

      3. ACCESSORIES AND ABETTORS ACT 1861 (C. 94)

        1. In section 8 (abettors in misdmeanors,) for “any misdemeanor” substitute...

      4. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 (C. 100)

        1. For section 16 (sending letters threatening to murder) substitute— Threats...

      5. PUBLIC STORES ACT 1875 (C. 25)

        1. Section 7 (offences of possessing, without a satisfactory explanation public...

      6. EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT 1883 (C. 3)

        1. In section 3(1) (attempt to cause explosion, or making or...

      7. CORONERS ACT 1877 (c. 71)

        1. Section 4(2) (duty of coroner to take depositions in a...

      8. CHILDREN ACT 1948 (c.43)

        1. In section 29(5)(carrying on an unregistered voluntary home) omit the...

      9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      13. BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT 1953 (c. 20)

        1. In section 29(4) (correction of error in register resulting from...

      14. SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 (C.69)

        1. 1.A prosecution for an offence to which paragraph 14 or...

        2. 2.In paragraphs 17 and 18 of the said Part II...

      15. ADOPTION ACT 1958 (7&8 Eliz.2.c.5.)

        1. In section 50 (prohibition of certain payments), after subsection (3)...

      16. OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS ACT 1959 (c. 66)

        1. In section 3(3) (powers of search and seizure) at end...

      17. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1961 (c. 39)

        1. 1. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        2. 2.(1) Section 26 (transfer of prisoner to serve sentence) shall...

        3. 3.(1) Section 28 (transfer of prisoner for trial) shall be...

        4. 4.(1) Section 29 (removal of detained person in the interests...

        5. 5.In section 39(1) (interpretation) in paragraph (b) of the definition...

      18. LICENSING ACT 1964 (c. 26)

        1. 1. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        2. 2. Minor and Consequential Amendments

      19. HOUSING ACT 1964 (c. 56)

        1. In section 65, after subsection (1) (penalty for failure to...

      20. HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1966 (c. 49)

        1. In section 110, after subsection (1) (penalty for failure to...

      21. CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1967 (c. 58)

        1. In section 2(1) (under which an offence carrying a sentence...

      22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      23. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1967 (C. 80)

        1. 1. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        2. 2.In section 22, as amended by paragraph 37 of Schedule...

        3. 3.In section 23(2) (requirements as to bringing before a justice...

        4. 4. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        5. 5. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        6. 6. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        7. 7.(1) Section 60 (release on license of persons serving determinate...

        8. 8. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        9. 9.in subsection 91 (drunkeness in a public place) omit subsection...

      24. COMPANIES ACT 1967 (c. 81)

        1. 1.In subsection 49(1) (certain offences to be triable summarily), after...

        2. 2.Paragraph 1 above shall be deemed to have had an...

      25. FIREARMS ACT 1968(c. 27)

        1. For paragraph 3 of Part II of Schedule 6 (under...

      26. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        1. . . . . . . . . . ....

      27. ...

        1. ...

      28. CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1969 (c.54)

        1. 1. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        2. 2.In section 13(3) (selection of supervisor for person placed under...

        3. 3. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        4. 4.In section 16(10) (meaning of “ attendance centre order” etc....

        5. 5.In paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 (restriction on power to...

        6. 6.Paragraphs 1 and 3 above, and any related repeal provided...

      29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      30. FINANCE ACT 1972 (C. 41)

        1. Paragraph 9 of Schedule 6 (right of members of value...

      31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      32. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT 1973 (c. 15)

        1. 1.In section 9(4) (abatement of salaries of holders of certain...

        2. 2.Paragraph 1 above shall be deemed to have had effect...

      33. POWERS OF CRIMINAL COURTS ACT 1973 (c. 62)

        1. 1. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        2. 2.For section 2(5)(b) (which requires a probation order requiring residence...

        3. 3.In section 9(1) (breach of conditional discharge by young offenders)—...

        4. 4. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        5. 5.In section 17(3) (power of Crown Court to revoke or...

        6. 6. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        7. 7. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        8. 8. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        9. 9. Minor and Consequential Amendments

        10. 10.Paragraph 3(2)(b) of Schedule 1 (which precludes a supervising court...

        11. 11. Minor and Consequential Amendments

      34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      35. JURIES ACT 1974 (c. 23)

        1. ...

      36. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974 (c. 37)

        1. In section 15(6)(d) (power to restrict punishments which can be...

      37. REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1974 (c. 53)

        1. In section 6(6)( a ) (convictions in England and Wales...

      38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      39. BAIL ACT 1976 (c. 63)

        1. 1.In section 2(2), in the definition of “court”, for “a...

        2. 2.In section 3(8) (power of the court granting bail to...

        3. 3.(1) Section 5 (supplementary provisions about bail) shall be amended...

        4. 4.. . . . . . . . . ....

    11. SCHEDULE 13

    12. SCHEDULE 14

      Transitional Provisions

      1. 1.A provision contained in any of sections 15 and 17...

      2. 2.. . . . . . . . . ....

      3. 3.(1) This paragraph applies to any provision of this Act...

      4. 4.. . . . . . . . . ....

      5. 5.Except as provided in paragraph 3 above a provision of...

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