Search Legislation

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, Section 77 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 77:

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

77 Postponement of issue of warrant.E+W

(1)Where a magistrates’ court has power to issue a [F1warrant of control] under this Part of this Act, it may, if it thinks it expedient to do so, postpone the issue of the warrant until such time and on such conditions, if any, as the court thinks just.

(2)Where a magistrates’ court has power to issue a warrant of commitment under this Part of this Act, it may, if it thinks it expedient to do so, fix a term of imprisonment [F2or detention under [F3section 108 of the powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000] (detention of persons aged [F318] to 20 for default)]and postpone the issue of the warrant until such time and on such conditions, if any, as the court thinks just.

[F4(3)A magistrates’ court shall have power at any time to do either or both of the following—

(a)to direct that the issue of the warrant of commitment shall be postponed until a time different from that to which it was previously postponed;

(b)to vary any of the conditions on which its issue is postponed,

but only if it thinks it just to do so having regard to a change of circumstances since the relevant time.

(4)In this section “the relevant time” means—

(a)where neither of the powers conferred by subsection (3) above has been exercised previously, the date when the issue of the warrant was postponed under subsection (2) above; and

(b)in any other case, the date of the exercise or latest exercise of either or both of the powers.

(5)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3) above, if on an application by a person in respect of whom issue of a warrant has been postponed it appears to a justice of the peace acting [F5in the local justice] area in which the warrant has been or would have been issued that since the relevant time there has been a change of circumstances which would make it just for the court to exercise one or other or both of the powers conferred by that subsection, he shall refer the application to the court.

[F6(6)Where such an application is referred to the court—

(a)the F7... court shall fix a time and place for the application to be heard; and

(b)the designated officer for the court shall give the applicant notice of that time and place.]

(7)Where such a notice has been given but the applicant does not appear at the time and place specified in the notice, the court may proceed with the consideration of the application in his absence.

(8)If a warrant of commitment in respect of the sum adjudged to be paid has been issued before the hearing of the application, the court shall have power to order that the warrant shall cease to have effect and, if the applicant has been arrested in pursuance of it, to order that he shall be released, but it shall only make an order under this subsection if it is satisfied that the change of circumstances on which the applicant relies was not put before the court when it was determining whether to issue the warrant.]

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 77(2) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165, 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 66 (which Sch. 9 para. 66 of the amending Act is repealed (prosp.) by 2000 c. 43, ss. 74, 75, 80(1), Sch. 7 Pt. II para. 203(2), Sch. 8)

F5Words in s. 77(5) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 218(2); S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 77(1) extended by S.I. 1985/215, art. 4(3), 1985/313, art. 4(3), 1985/487, art. 5(3), 1986/110, art. 4(3), 1986/250, art. 5(3), 1986/779, art. 3(3), 1986/2090, art. 5(3), 1987/213, art. 4(3), 1987/292, art. 3(3)

C2S. 77(1) applied: by S.I. 1990/137, art. 5(3); by S.I. 1991/138, art. 5(3); by S.I. 1991/139, reg. 7(3); by S.I. 1991/522, art. 3(3); (31.1.1992) by S.I. 1992/130, reg. 8(3); (8.2.1992) by S.I. 1992/190, art. 5(3); (27.2.1993) by S.I. 1993/387, art. 5(3); (5.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1197, art. 3(3); (1.9.1993) by S.I. 1993/2015, art. 6(3) and S.I. 1993/2016, art. 5(3); (22.3.1994) by S.I. 1994/451, art. 5(3); (15.7.1994) by S.I. 1994/1679, art. 5(3) and S.I. 1994/1681, art. 4(3); (18.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/907, art. 4(3) and S.I. 1995/908, art. 5(3); (29.2.1996) by S.I. 1996/247, art. 5(3); (24.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/1036, art. 5(3); (9.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/883, art. 5(3); (12.8.1997) by S.I. 1997/1949, art. 5(3); (14.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/268, art. 5(3); (18.3.1999) by S.I. 1999/424, art. 5(3); (8.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/51, art. 5(2); (21.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/181, art. 5(2); (25.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/435, art. 5(2); (W.)(18.3.2000) by S.I. 2000/976, art. 5(2); (W.)(1.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/1075, art. 5(2); (W.)(7.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/1078, art. 6(2); (11.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/827, art. 5(2); (W.) (11.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/1096, art. 5(2); (15.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/1081, art. 5(2); (24.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/1843, art. 6(2); (W.)(24.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/2230, art. 5(2); S. 77(1) applied (29.5.2001) by S.I. 2001/1631, art. 5(2) (which was revoked (8.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/272, art. 13); S. 77(1) applied (8.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/272, art. 5(2)

C3S. 77(1) applied (8.2.2003) by The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/229), art. 13(2)

S. 77(1) applied (7.7.2003) by The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea)(No. 2) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1535), {art. 13(2)}

S. 77(1) applied (E.) (26.5.2004) by The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Quota and Third Country Fishing Measures)(England) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1237), {art. 6(2)}

S. 77(1) applied (E.) (1.1.2005) by The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Satellite Monitoring Measures) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3226), art. 16(2)

S. 77(1) applied (E.) (2.2.2005) by The Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/17), art. 6(2) (subject to art. 1(3))

S. 77(1) applied (E.) (28.2.2005) by The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/393), art. 24(2) (subject to art. 1(3))

S. 77(1) applied (1.6.2006) by The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea)(Monitoring, Inspection and Surveillance) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1327), {art. 23(2)}

S. 77(1) applied (W.) (7.7.2006) by The Sea Fishing (Northern Hake Stock)(Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1796), {art. 10(2)}

S. 77(1) applied (10.7.2006) by The Sea Fishing (Marking and Identification of Passive Fishing Gear and Beam Trawls)(England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1549), {art. 6(2)}

S. 77(1) applied (15.8.2006) by The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Annual Community and Third Country Fishing Measures)(England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1970), {art. 11(2)}

S. 77(1) applied (20.4.2007) by The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/927), art. 18(2)

S. 77(1) applied (1.10.2007) by The Sea Fishing (Prohibition on the Removal of Shark Fins) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2554), art. 6(2)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act without Schedules as a PDF

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources