(1)This Act shall be a sufficient warrant for [F1—
(a) the citation of witnesses for precognition by the prosecutor, whether or not any person has been charged with the offence in relation to which the precognition is taken; and
(b)]the citation of the accused and witnesses in a summary prosecution to any ordinary sitting of the court or to any special diet fixed by the court or any adjournment thereof.
(2)Such citation shall be in the form prescribed by Act of Adjournal or as nearly as may be in such form and shall, in the case of the accused, proceed on an induciae of at least 48 hours unless in the special circumstances of the case the court fixes a shorter induciae.
[F2(2A)Where the charge in the complaint in respect of which an accused is cited is of committing a sexual offence to which section 288C of this Act applies, the citation shall include or be accompanied by notice to the accused—
(a)that, if he is tried for the offence, his defence may be conducted only by a lawyer;
(b)that it is, therefore, in his interests, if he has not already done so, to get the professional assistance of a solicitor; and
(c)that, if he does not engage a solicitor for the purposes of his defence at the trial, the court will do so.
(2B)A failure to comply with subsection (2A) above does not affect the validity or lawfulness of any such citation or any other element of the proceedings against the accused.]
F3(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 140(1)(a) and “(b)” inserted (1.8.1997) by 1997 c. 48, s. 57(2)(a); S.I. 1997/1712, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4, 5)
F2S. 140(2A)(2B) inserted (1.11.2002) by Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9), s. 3, Sch. para. 8; S.S.I. 2002/443, art. 3
F3S. 140(3) repealed (1.8.1997) by 1997 c. 48, ss. 57(2)(b), 62(2), Sch. 3; S.I. 1997/1712, art. 3, Sch. (subject to arts. 4, 5)