Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

This provision lets a justice issue a summons or warrant after an information is laid, but sets conditions for when warrants may be issued and regulates several magistrates’ court procedures.

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Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
appeals bail commencement commencement and application complaints court procedure court proceedings court process custody evidence fees and penalties fines and penalties fines enforcement legislative history litigation costs magistrates' courts payment enforcement procedure publication restrictions remand repeals repeals and amendments statutory amendments summonses +2 more

Statute overview

About this statute

This provision lets a justice issue a summons or warrant after an information is laid, but sets conditions for when warrants may be issued and regulates several magistrates’ court procedures. This segment sets out several magistrates’ court procedures, including single-justice and written-charge processes, notice and declaration rules, automatic online conviction, and rules for low-value shoplifting. This provision sets procedures for magistrates’ courts dealing with certain criminal cases, complaints, penalties, and enforcement steps, including when cases may be tried summarily or transferred, and when fines, warrants, or adjournments may be used. This provision limits when magistrates’ courts may issue commitment warrants, fix imprisonment for default on fines, and enforce payment, and it gives courts related powers over summonses, notices, instalments, remission, and appeals. This provision sets magistrates’ court rules for bail, remand, warrants, open court, timing limits, and enforcement powers.