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Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 16 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.
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Part I Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure
Offences triable on indictment or summarily
17A. Initial procedure: accused to indicate intention as to plea.
17D.Maximum penalty under section 17A(6) or 17B(2)(c) for certain offences
17E.Functions under sections 17A to 17D capable of exercise by single justice
18. Initial procedure on information against adult for offence triable either way.
19. Court to begin by considering which mode of trial appears more suitable.
20A.Procedure where summary trial appears more suitable: supplementary
21. Procedure where trial on indictment appears more suitable.
22. Certain offences triable either way to be tried summarily if value involved is small.
23. Power of court, with consent of legally represented accused, to proceed in his absence.
24. Summary trial of information against child or young person for indictable offence.
24A.Child or young person to indicate intention as to plea in certain cases
24B.Intention as to plea by child or young person: absence of accused
24C.Intention as to plea by child or young person: adjournment
24D.Functions under sections 24A to 24C capable of exercise by single justice
25. Power to change from summary trial to committal proceedings, and vice versa.
26. Power to issue summons to accused in certain circumstances.
27. Effect of dismissal of information for offence triable either way.
Powers in respect of offenders
31. General limit on power of magistrates’ court to impose imprisonment.
32. Penalties on summary conviction for offences triable either way.
33. Maximum penalties on summary conviction in pursuance of section 22.
36A. Alterations of names of petty sessions areas in inner London area.
37. Committal to Crown Court with a view to borstal sentence.
38. Committal for sentence on summary trial of offence triable either way
38A. Committal for sentence on indication of guilty plea to offence triable either way.
39. Cases where magistrates’ court may remit offender to another such court for sentence.
40. Restriction on amount payable under compensation order of magistrates’ court.
42. Restriction on justices sitting after dealing with bail.
43A. Functions of magistrates’ court where a person in custody is brought before it with a view to his appearance before the Crown Court.
43B. Power to grant bail where police bail has been granted.
47. Service of summons out of time after failure to prove service by post.
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50. Construction of references to complaint in enactments dealing with offences.
Part II Civil Jurisdiction and Procedure
Transfer of civil proceedings (other than family proceedings)
66. Composition of magistrates’ courts for family proceedings: general.
68A.Power of the magistrates’ court to order disclosure of documents, inspection of property etc. in family proceedings
69. Sittings of magistrates’ courts for domestic proceedings.
70. Jurisdiction of magistrates’ courts in inner London for domestic proceedings.
Part III Satisfaction and Enforcement
Part IV Witnesses and Evidence
SCHEDULES
OFFENCES TRIABLE EITHER WAY BY VIRTUE OF SECTION 17
2.Offences under section 8 of the Disorderly Houses Act 1751...
3.Offences consisting in contravention of section 13 of the Statutory...
4.Offences under section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861...
5.Offences under the following provisions of the Offences against the...
6.Offences under section 20 of the Telegraph Act 1868 (disclosing...
7.Offences under section 13 of the Debtors Act 1869 (transactions...
11.Offences under section 3 of the Submarine Telegraph Act 1885...
12.Offences under section 13 of the Stamp Duties Management Act...
13.Offences under section 8(2) of the Cremation Act 1902 (making...
14.All offences under the Perjury Act 1911 except offences under—...
16.Offences under section 17 of the Deeds of Arrangement Act...
18.Offences under section 8(2) of the Census Act 1920 (disclosing...
19.Offences under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925...
20.Offences under section 11 of the Agricultural Credits Act 1928...
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23.Offences under the following provisions of the Sexual Offences Act...
27.Offences under section 4(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1967...
28.All indictable offences under the Theft Act 1968 except:—
29.Offences under the following provisions of the Criminal Damage Act...
30.Offences in relation to stamps issued for the purpose of...
31.Uttering any forged document the forgery of which is an...
32.Committing an indecent assault upon a person whether male or...
33.Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of any offence...
35.Any offence consisting in the incitment to commit an offence...
OFFENCES FOR WHICH THE VALUE INVOLVED IS RELEVANT TO THE MODE OF TRIAL
1.(1) A magistrates’ court may commit a corporation for trial...
3.(1) Where a representative appears, any requirement of this Act...
4.(1) Notification or intimation for the purposes of subsections (2)...
6.Subject to the preceding provisions of this Schedule, the provisions...
7.Where a corporation and an individual who has attained the...
8.Subsection (6) of section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act...
Powers of authorised officers executing warrants
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act 1951 (14 & IS Geo. 6 c. 63)
Magistrates’ Courts (Appeals from Binding Over Orders) Act 1956 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2 c. 44)
Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) Act 1965 (c. 69)
Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54)
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Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 (c. 18)
105.In section 14(3) and (6) of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal...
106.In section 18(1) of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act...
107.In section 21(1) of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act...
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109.In section 38(4) and (6) of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal...
110.In section 41 of the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act...
Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (c. 62)
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Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 (c. 8)
Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1978 (c. 22)
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159.In section 16(8) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
160.In section 22 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
161.In section 23 of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
162.In section 24(3) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
163.In section 30(1) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
164.In section 32(2) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
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167.In section 88(1) of the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates’ Courts...
Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978 (c. 25)
Justices of the Peace Act 1979 (c. 55)
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