Immigration Act 1971

Forfeiture of recognizances U.K.

31 (1) Where under paragraph 29 above (as it applies in England and Wales or in Northern Ireland) a recognizance is entered into conditioned for the appearance of an appellant before an adjudicator or the Tribunal, and it appears to the adjudicator or the Tribunal, as the case may be, to be forfeited, the adjudicator or Tribunal may by order declare it to be forfeited and adjudge the persons bound thereby, whether as principal or sureties, or any of them, to pay the sum in which they are respectively bound or such part of it, if any, as the adjudicator or Tribunal thinks fit.

(2) An order under this paragraph shall, for the purposes of this sub-paragraph, specify a magistrates’ court or, in Northern Ireland, court of summary jurisdiction; and the recognizance shall be treated for the purposes of collection, enforcement and remission of the sum forfeited as having been forfeited by the court so specified.

(3) Where an adjudicator or the Tribunal makes an order under this paragraph the adjudicator or Tribunal shall, as soon as practicable, give particulars of the recognizance to the [F1 proper officer] of the court specified in the order in pursuance of sub-paragraph (2) above.

[F2 (3A) In sub-paragraph (3) “proper officer” means—

(a) in relation to a magistrates’ court in England and Wales, the justices’ chief executive for the court; and

(b) in relation to a court of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, the clerk of the court.]

(4) Any sum the payment of which is enforceable by a magistrates’ court in England or Wales by virtue of this paragraph shall be treated for the [F3 purposes of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 and, in particular, section 60 of that Act, as being] due under a recognizance forfeited by such a court . . . F4

(5) Any sum the payment of which is enforceable by virtue of this paragraph by a court of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland shall, for the purposes of section 20(5) of the M1 Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, be treated as a forfeited recognizance.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 2 para. 31(3) substituted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90, Sch. 13 paras. 64, 70(1)(4) (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii) (with Sch. 2 para. 2)

F2 Sch. 2 para. 31(3A) inserted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90, Sch. 13 paras. 64, 70(1)(5) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii) (with Sch. 2 para. 2)

F3 Words in Sch. 2 para. 31(4) substituted (19.6.1997) by virtue of 1997 c. 25, ss. 73(2), 74(1), Sch. 5 para. 10

F4 Words repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1972 (c. 71), Sch. 6 Pt. II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 paras. 30-33 applied (with modifications) (1.9.1996) by 1993 c. 23, s. 9A (as inserted (1.9.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(2), Sch. 3 para. 3; S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. II)

Sch. 2 para. 31 modified (3.8.1998) by 1997 c. 68, s. 3, Sch. 3 para. 6; S.I. 1998/1892, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1954 c. 9 (N.I.)

32 Where under paragraph 29 above (as it applies in Scotland) a person released on bail fails to comply with the terms of a bail bond conditioned for his appearance before an adjudicator or the Tribunal, the adjudicator or Tribunal may declare the bail to be forfeited, and any bail so forfeited shall be transmitted by the adjudicator or the Tribunal to the sheriff court having jurisdiction in the area where the proceedings took place, and shall be treated as having been forfeited by that court.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Sch. 2 paras. 30-33 applied (with modifications) (1.9.1996) by 1993 c. 23, s. 9A (as inserted (1.9.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(2), Sch. 3 para.3; S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt.II)

Sch. 2 para. 32 modified (3.8.1998) by 1997 c. 68, s. 3, Sch. 3 para.7; S.I. 1998/1892, art.2