Bail Act 1976

2 Other definitions. E+W

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “conviction” includes—

(a) a finding of guilt,

(b) a finding that a person is not guilty by reason of insanity,

(c) a finding under [F1 section 30(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980] (remand for medical examination) that the person in question did the act or made the omission charged, and

(d) a conviction of an offence for which an order is made placing the offender on probation or discharging him absolutely or conditionally,

and “convicted” shall be construed accordingly.

(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• [F2 “bail hostel” and “probation hostel” have the same meanings as in the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973,]

• “child” means a person under the age of fourteen,

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

• “court” includes a judge of a court, [F4 or a justice of the peace] and, in the case of a specified court, includes a judge or (as the case may be) justice having powers to act in connection with proceedings before that court,

• “Courts-Martial Appeal rules” means rules made under section 49 of the M1 Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968,

• “Crown Court rules” means rules made under section 15 of the M2 Courts Act 1971,

• “magistrates’ courts rules” means rules made under section 15 of the Justices of the M3 Peace Act 1949.

• “offence” includes an alleged offence,

• “proceedings against a fugitive offender” means proceedings under [F5 the Extradition Act 1989] or section 2(1) or 4(3) of the M4 Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965,

• “Supreme Court rules” means rules made under section 99 of the M5 Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925,

• “surrender to custody” means, in relation to a person released on bail, surrendering himself into the custody of the court or of the constable (according to the requirements of the grant of bail) at the time and place for the time being appointed for him to do so,

• “vary”, in relation to bail, means imposing further conditions after bail is granted, or varying or rescinding conditions,

• “young person” means a person who has attained the age of fourteen and is under the age of seventeen.

(3) Where an enactment (whenever passed) which relates to bail in criminal proceedings refers to the person bailed appearing before a court it is to be construed unless the context otherwise requires as referring to his surrendering himself into the custody of the court.

(4) Any reference in this Act to any other enactment is a reference thereto as amended, and includes a reference thereto as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), Sch. 7 para. 143

F2 Definitions inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 170, Sch. 8 para. 16, Sch. 15 para. 52

F3 Definition of “coroners' rules” repealed by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 13

F4 Words substituted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12

F5 Words substituted by Extradition Act 1989 (c. 33, SIF 48), s. 36(3)

Marginal Citations

M1 1968 c. 20.

M2 1971 c. 23.

M3 1949 c. 101.

M4 1965 c. 45.

M5 1925 c. 49.