Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993

38 Adjournment for inquiry etc. in summary proceedings at first calling

(1) Immediately preceding section 334 of the 1975 Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“333A Adjournment for inquiry at first calling

Without prejudice to section 338(1) of this Act, at the first calling of the case in a summary prosecution the court may, in order to allow time for inquiry into the case or for any other cause which it considers reasonable, adjourn the case under this section, for such period as it considers appropriate, without calling on the accused to plead to any charge against him but remanding him in custody or on bail or ordaining him to appear at the diet thus fixed; and the court may from time to time so adjourn the case, so however that—

(a) where the accused is remanded in custody, the total period for which he is so remanded under this subsection shall not exceed twenty-one days and no one period of adjournment shall, except on special cause shown, exceed seven days; and

(b) where he is remanded on bail or ordained to appear, no one period of adjournment shall exceed twenty eight days.”.

(2) Section 328 of the 1975 Act (which admits of adjournment for inquiry in summary proceedings only where an accused has been apprehended) shall cease to have effect.