Courts Act 2003

The commission of the peace and local justice areas

7 The commission of the peace for England and Wales

There shall be a commission of the peace for England and Wales—

(a) issued under the Great Seal, and

(b) addressed generally, and not by name, to all such persons as may from time to time hold office as justices of the peace for England and Wales.

8 Local justice areas

(1) England and Wales is to be divided into areas to be known as local justice areas.

(2) The areas are to be those specified by an order made by the Lord Chancellor.

(3) Each local justice area established by order under subsection (2) is to be known by such name as is specified in the order (but subject to subsection (4)).

(4) The Lord Chancellor may make orders altering local justice areas.

(5) “Altering”, in relation to a local justice area, includes (as well as changing its boundaries)—

(a) combining it with one or more other local justice areas,

(b) dividing it between two or more other local justice areas, and

(c) changing its name.

(6) Before making an order under subsection (4) in relation to a local justice area the Lord Chancellor must consult—

(a) the justices of the peace assigned to the local justice area,

(b) any courts board whose area includes the local justice area or a part of the local justice area, and

(c) unless the alteration consists only of a change of name, any local authorities whose area includes the local justice area or a part of the local justice area.

(7) “Local authority” means—

(a) any council of a county, a county borough, a London borough or a council of a district,

(b) the Common Council of the City of London, or

(c) a police authority established under section 3 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) or the Metropolitan Police Authority.