Part 2Justices of the peace
The commission of the peace and local justice areas
8Local 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.
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Before making any order under subsection (2) or (4), the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice.
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,
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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
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a police and crime commissioner or the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.
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The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.