Access to Justice Act 1999

4 (1) Section 18 of the Prevention of Crimes Act 1871 (evidence of previous conviction by record signed by clerk) is amended as follows.

(2) For the words from “clerk of the court” to “such clerk or officer;” substitute “proper officer of the court by which such conviction was made;”.

(3) For “clerk or other officer” substitute “proper officer”.

(4) At the end of that section insert—

• “In this section “proper officer” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a magistrates' court in England and Wales, the justices' chief executive for the court; and

  (b)

  in relation to any other court, the clerk of the court or other officer having the custody of the records of the court, or the deputy of such clerk or other officer.”