Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)

Part I E+W+S Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure

Jurisdiction to issue process and deal with charges E+W

[F1 2 Trial of summary offences E+W

(1) A magistrates' court has jurisdiction to try any summary offence.

(2) A magistrates' court has jurisdiction [F2 under sections 51 and 51A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in respect of] any offence committed by a person who appears or is brought before the court.

(3) Subject to—

(a) sections 18 to [F3 22A] , and

(b) any other enactment (wherever contained) relating to the mode of trial of offences triable either way,

a magistrates' court has jurisdiction to try summarily any offence which is triable either way.

(4) A magistrates' court has jurisdiction, in the exercise of its powers under section 24, to try summarily an indictable offence.

(5) This section does not affect any jurisdiction over offences conferred on a magistrates' court by any enactment not contained in this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2 substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 44, 110; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(p)

F2 Words in s. 2(2) substituted (9.5.2005 for specified purposes, 18.6.2012 for specified purposes, 5.11.2012 for specified purposes, 28.5.2013 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 51(2); S.I. 2005/1267, art. 2(1)(2)(a), Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(2)(3) (with art. 5) (see S.I. 2012/2574, art. 4(2) and S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2012/2574, art. 2(2)(3)(c), Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (4.11.2012) by S.I. 2012/2761, art. 2) (with S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2013/1103, art. 2(1)(c)(2)(3) (with arts. 3, 4)

F3 Word in s. 2(3)(a) substituted (13.5.2014) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 176(2), 185(1) (with ss. 8, 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93, 176(8)); S.I. 2014/949, art. 3, Sch. para. 17