Criminal Justice Act 1967

1 Committal for trial without consideration of the evidence.

(1) A magistrates' court inquiring into an offence as examining justices may, if satisfied that all the evidence before the court (whether for the prosecution or the defence) consists of written statements tendered to the court under the next following section, with or without exhibits, commit the defendant for trial for the offence without consideration of the contents of those statements, unless—

(a) the defendant or one of the defendants is not represented by counsel or a solicitor;

(b) counsel or a solicitor for the defendant or one of the defendants, as the case may be, has requested the court to consider a submission that the statements disclose insufficient evidence to put that defendant on trial by jury for the offence.

(2) Section 7(1) of the [1952 c. 55.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 (committal for trial on consideration of the evidence) shall not apply to a committal for trial under this section.