Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933

1933 CHAPTER 36 23 and 24 Geo 5

An Act to abolish grand juries and amend the law as to the presentment of indictments; to provide for the summary determination of questions as to liability for death duties; to make provision for alternative procedure for the recovery of Crown debts and to enable proceedings by the Crown to be instituted in county courts in appropriate cases; to amend the procedure as to certain prerogative writs and as to trials by jury in the High Court; to amend the law as to the payment of costs by and to the Crown; to provide for the further delegation of the jurisdiction of the Master in Lunacy; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[28th July 1933]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 2, 10(1)(2), and Sch. 2 were originally published in SIF 39:1 (Criminal Law; General) and ss. 7, 9 and 10 in SIF 39A (Crown Proceedings)

C2 By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), S. 10(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch.1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to Juvenile Courts.

Commencement Information

I1 Act wholly in force at 1.9.1933 by s. 10(4) (now repealed).

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1 repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), 56(4), Sch. 11 Pt. IV

2 Procedure for indictment of offenders. E+W

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a bill of indictment charging any person with an indictable offence may be preferred by any person before a court in which the person charged may lawfully be indicted for that offence, and where a bill of indictment has been so preferred the proper officer, of the, court shall if he is satisfied that the requirements of the next following subsection have been complied with, sign the bill, and it shall thereupon become an indictment and be proceeded with accordingly:

Provided that if the judge . . . F2 of the court is satisfied that the said requirements have been complied with, he may, on the application of the prosecutor or of his own motion, direct the proper officer to sign the bill and the be shall be signed accordingly.

(2) Subject as hereinafter provided no bill of indicment charging any person with an indictable offence shall be preferred unless either—

(a) the person charged has been committed for trial for the offence; or

[F3 (aa) the offence is specified in a notice of transfer under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (serious and complex fraud); or]

[F4 (ab) the offence is specified in a notice of transfer under section 53 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (violent or sexual offences against children); or]

[F5 (ac) the person charged has been sent for trial for the offence under section 51 (no committal proceedings for indictable-only offences) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (“the 1998 Act”); or]

(b) the bill is preferred [F6 by the direction of the [F7 criminal division of the Court of Appeal] or] by the direction or with the consent of a judge of the High Court . . . F8 : [F9 or

(c) the bill is preferred under section 22B(3)(a) of the M1 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.]

Provided that—

(i) where the person charged has been committed for trial, the bill of indictment against him may include, either in substitution for or in addition to counts charging the offence which he was committed, any counts founded on facts or evidence disclosed [F10 to the magistrates’ court inquiring into that offence as examining justices], being counts which may lawfully be joined in the same indictment;

[F11 (iA) in a case to which paragraph (aa) [F12 or (ab)] above applies, the bill of indictment may include, either in substitution for or in addition to any count charging an offence specified in the notice of transfer, any counts founded on material that accompanied the copy of that notice which, in pursuance of [F13 regulations under the relevant provision], was given to the person charged, being counts which may lawfully be joined in the same indictment;]

[F14 (iB) in a case to which paragraph (ac) above applies, the bill of indictment may include, either in substitution for or in addition to any count charging an offence specified in the notice under section 51(7) of the 1998 Act, any counts founded on material which, in pursuance of regulations made under paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to that Act, was served on the person charged, being counts which may be lawfully joined in the same indictment;]

(ii) a charge of a previous conviction of an offence F15 . . . may, notwithstanding that it was not included in the committal or in any such direction or consent as aforesaid, be included in any bill of indictment

[F16 and in paragraph (iA) above “the relevant provision” means section 5(9) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 in a case to which paragraph (aa) above applies, and paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 to the Criminal Justice Act 1991 in a case to which paragraph (ab) above applies].

(3) If a bill of indictment preferred otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the last foregoing subsection has been signed by the proper officer of the court, the indictment shall be liable to be quashed:

Provided that—

(a) if the bill contains several counts, and the said provisions have been complied with as respects one or more of them, those counts only that were wrongly included shall be quashed under this subsection; and

(b) where a person who has been committed for trial is convicted on any indictment or any count of an indictment, that indictment or count shall not be quashed under this subsection in any proceedings on appeal, unless application was made at the trial that it should be so quashed.

(4)(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17

(6) The Lord Chancellor may make rules for carrying this section into effect and in particular for making provision as to the manner in which and the time at which bills of indictment are to be preferred before any court and the manner in which application is to be made for the consent of a judge of the High Court . . . F18 for the preferment of a bill of indictment.

(7) F19 . . . Nothing in this section shall affect any enactment restricting the right to prosecute in particular classes of case.

(8) The provisions of any enactment passed before the commencement of this Act shall have effect subject to the adaptations and modifications specified in the Second Schedule to this Act.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), s. 56(4), Sch. 11 Pt. IV

F3 S. 2(2)(aa) inserted by Criminal Justice Act, 1987 (c. 38), s. 15, Sch. 2 para. 1(1)

F4 S. 2(2)(ab) inserted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 53(5), Sch. 6 para. 8(1); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F5 S. 2(2)(ac) inserted (4.1.1999 for specified purposes and otherwise 15.1.2001) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 5(1)(a); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 4(2)(c) and S.I. 2000/3283, art. 2

F6 Words inserted by Criminal Appeal Act 1964 (c. 43), s. 5, Sch. 2

F7 Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Appeal Act 1966 (c. 31), s. 1(6)(a)

F8 Words repealed by Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (c. 23), s. 31(6), Sch. 2

F9 S. 2(2)(c) and preceding word inserted (1.6.1999) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 5(1)(b); S.I. 1999/1279, art. 2.

F10 Words in s. 2(2) proviso para. (i) substituted (4.7.1996 but with effect (8.3.1997) as mentioned in Sch. 1 Pt. III para. 39) by 1996 c. 25, s. 47, Sch. 1 Pt. II para. 17 (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/683, art. 1(2)

F11 Para. (iA) of the proviso to s. 2(2) inserted by Criminal Justice Act, 1987 (c. 38), s. 15, Sch. 2 para. 1(2) which s. 2(2)(iA) was substituted by Criminal Justice Act, 1988 (c. 33), s. 170(1), Sch. 15 para. 10

F12 Words in para. (iA) of the proviso to s. 2(2) inserted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 53(5), Sch. 6 para. 8(2)(a); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F13 Words in para. (iA) of the proviso to s. 2(2) substituted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 53(5), Sch. 6 para. 8(2)(b); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F14 S. 2(2) proviso para. (iB) inserted (4.1.1999 for specified purposes and otherwise 15.1.2001) by 1998 c. 37, s. 119, Sch. 8 para. 5(2); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 4(2)(c) and S.I. 2000/3283, art. 2

F15 Words in s. 2(2)(ii) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. III.

F16 Words in s. 2(2) proviso inserted (1.10.1992) by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 53(5), Sch. 6 para. 8(3); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F17 S. 2(4)(5) repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), s. 56(4), Sch. 11 Pt. IV

F18 Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), s. 56(4), Sch. 11 Pt. IV

F19 Words in s. 2(7) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. III.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 2 continued (as amended) by Supreme Court Act, 1981 (c. 54), s. 152(1), Sch. 5

C4 S. 2(2)(b): by the Supreme Court Act 1981 (c.54), Sch. 5, it is provided that this section shall continue to have effect with the amendments made by the Criminal Appeal Act 1964 and the Criminal Appeal Act 1966 that is with the insertion after “preferred” of “by the direction of the criminal division of the Court of Appeal or”.

C5 S. 2(2) proviso (i) amended by Magistrates' Courts Act, 1980 (c. 43), s. 102(8)

Marginal Citations

M1 1985 c.23.

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F20 E+W

Textual Amendments

F20 S. 3 repealed (with savings) by Finance Act 1975 (c. 7), ss. 50, 52(2)(3), 59, Sch. 13 pt. I

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21 E+W

Textual Amendments

F21 S. 4 repealed by Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (c. 44), s. 39, Sch. 2

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22 E+W

Textual Amendments

F22 S. 5 repealed by Administration of Justice (Misc. Provisions) Act 1938 (c. 63), s. 20(3), Sch. 4

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23 E+W

Textual Amendments

F23 S. 6 repealed by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54), s. 152 (4), Sch. 7

7 Costs in Crown proceedings. E+W

(1) In any civil proceedings to which the Crown is a party in any court having power to award costs in cases between subjects, and in any arbitration to which the Crown is a party, the costs of and incidental to the proceedings shall be in the discretion of the court or arbitrator to be exercised in the same manner and on the same principles as in cases between subjects, and the court or arbitrator shall have power to make an order for the payment of costs by or to the Crown accordingly:

Provided that—

(a) in the case of proceedings to which by reason of any enactment or otherwise the Attorney-General, a Government department or any officer of the Crown as such is required to be made a party, the court or arbitrator shall have regard to the nature of the proceedings and the character and circumstances in which the Attorney-General, the department or officer of the Crown appears, and may in the exercise of its or his discretion order any other party to the proceedings to pay the costs of the Attorney-General, department or officer, whatever may be the result of the proceedings; and

(b) nothing in this section shall affect the power of the court or arbitrator to order, or any enactment providing for, the payment of costs out of any particular fund or property, or any enactment expressly relieving any department or officer of the Crown of the liability to pay costs.

(2) In this section the expression “civil proceedings” includes proceedings by petition of right and proceedings by the Crown in the High Court or a county court for the recovery of fines or penalties, and references to proceedings to which the Crown is a party include references to proceedings to which the Attorney-General or any Government department or any officer of the Crown as such is a party, so, however, that the Crown shall not be deemed to be a party to any proceedings by reason only that the proceedings are proceedings by the Attorney-General on the relation of some other person.

F24 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F24 S. 7(3) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt.III.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 S. 7 applied by Trade Marks Act 1938 (c. 22), s. 48 (2)

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F25 E+W

Textual Amendments

F25 S. 8 repealed by Mental Health Act 1959 (c. 72), s. 149(2), Sch. 8 Pt. I

9 Saving for proceedings affecting His Majesty in His private capacity. E+W

Nothing in this Act shall apply to proceedings affecting His Majesty in His private capacity.

10 Short title, extent, repeal and commencement. E+W

(1) This Act may be cited as the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933.

(2) This Act shall not extend to Scotland or to Northern Ireland.

(3)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F26

Textual Amendments

F26 S. 10(3)(4), Sch. 3 repealed Statutue Law Revision Act 1950 s. 1(1), Sch. 1

Schedule 1 E+W . . . F27

Textual Amendments

F27 Sch. 1 repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), s. 10, Sch. 3, Pt. III

Section 2.

Schedule 2 E+W Consequential Adaptations of Enactments.

1 E+W References in any enactment to the preferment of a bill of indictment before or the finding of an indictment by a grand jury shall (whatever words are used) include respectively references to the preferment and signing of a bill of indictment under this Act.

2 E+W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F28

Textual Amendments

F28 Sch. 2 para. 2. repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), s. 56(4), Sch. 11 pt. IV

3 E+W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 2 para. 3 repealed by Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1952 (c. 48), s. 18(1), Sch.

4 E+W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F30

Textual Amendments

F30 Sch. 2 para. 4 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986 (c. 12), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 pt. I

Schedule 3 E+W . . . F31

Textual Amendments

F31 S. 10(3)(4), Sch. 3 repealed Statutue Law Revision Act 1950 s. 1(1), Sch. 1