Part I Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure
Powers in respect of offenders
31 General limit on power of magistrates’ court to impose imprisonment. C1
C21
Without prejudice to section 133 below, a magistrates’ court shall not have power to impose imprisonment F1or youth custodyfor more than 6 months in respect of any one offence.
C22
Unless expressly excluded, subsection (1) above shall apply even if the offence in question is one for which a person would otherwise be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment F1or youth custodyfor more than 6 months.
C33
Any power of a magistrates’ court to impose a term of imprisonment for non-payment of a fine, or for want of sufficient distress to satisfy a fine, shall not be limited by virtue of subsection (1) above.
4
In subsection (3) above “fine” includes a pecuniary penalty but does not include a pecuniary forfeiture or pecuniary compensation.