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Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, Cross Heading: Evidence in criminal cases is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Textual Amendments
F1S. 102 repealed (4.7.1996, with effect as mentioned in Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 39 of the repealing Act) by 1996 c. 25, ss. 47, 80, Sch. 1 Pt I para. 9, Sch. 5 table10 (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)
[F3[F4(1)In any proceedings before a magistrates’ court inquiring as examining justices into an offence to which this section applies, a statement made in writing by or taken in writing from a child shall be admissible in evidence of any matter.]
(2)This section applies—
(a)to an offence which involves an assault, or injury or a threat of injury to, a person;
(b)to an offence under section 1 of the M1Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (cruelty to persons under 16);
(c)to an offence under the M2 Sexual Offences Act 1956, F5. . . M3the Protection of Children Act 1978 [F6or Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003] ; and
(d)to an offence which consists of attempting or conspiring to commit, or of aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of, an offence falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above.
F7(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F7(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F8(5)In this section “child” has the same meaning as in section 53 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.]]]
Textual Amendments
F2S. 103 substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), ss. 33, 123(6), Sch. 8 para. 16
F3S. 103 repealed (18.6.2012 for specified purposes, 5.11.2012 for specified purposes, 28.5.2013 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 51(6)(b); S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(2)(3) (with art. 5) (see S.I. 2012/2574, art. 4(2) and S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2012/2574, art. 2(2)(3)(c), Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (4.11.2012) by S.I. 2012/2761, art. 2) (with S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2013/1103, art. 2(1)(c)(2)(3) (with arts. 3, 4)
F4S. 103(1) substituted (4.7.1996, with effect as mentioned in Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 39 of the substituting Act) by 1996 c. 25, s. 47, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 10(2) (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)
F5Words in s. 103(2)(c) repealed (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), ss. 140, 141, Sch. 7; S.I. 2004/874, art. 2
F6Words in s. 103(2)(c) inserted (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), ss. 139, 141, Sch. 6 para. 26(2); S.I. 2004/874, art. 2
F7S. 103(3)(4) repealed (4.7.1996, with effect as mentioned in Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 39 of the repealing Act) by 1996 c. 25, ss. 47, 80, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 10(3), Sch. 5 table10 (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)
F8S. 103(5) substituted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 55(1); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 103(2)(d) modified (1.10.2008) by Serious Crimes Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 63(1), 94, Sch. 6 para. 5(b) (with Sch. 13 para. 5); S.I. 2008/2504, art. 2(a)(g)
Marginal Citations
M11933 c. 12 (20).
Where a person is convicted of a summary offence by a magistrates’ court, other than a [F9youth court], and—
(a)it is proved to the satisfaction of the court, on oath or in such other manner as may be prescribed, that not less than 7 days previously a notice was served on the accused in the prescribed form and manner specifying any alleged previous conviction of the accused of a summary offence proposed to be brought to the notice of the court in the event of his conviction of the offence charged; and
(b)the accused is not present in person before the court,
the court may take account of any such previous conviction so specified as if the accused had appeared and admitted it.
Textual Amendments
F9Words in s. 104 substituted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 100, Sch. 11 para. 40(2)(n); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch.2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C2S. 104 restricted (1.9.1998) by 1988 c. 53, s. 13(3A)(3B) (as inserted (1.9.1998)) by 1998 c. 15, s. 2(1); S.I. 1998/1837, art.2 (with transitional savings in art. 3))
Textual Amendments
F10S. 105 repealed (4.7.1996, with effect as mentioned in Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 39 of the repealing Act) by 1996 c. 25, ss. 47, 80, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 11, Sch. 5 table10 (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)
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