Part VI

Magistrates’ Courts

Either way offences: accused’s intention as to plea.
49
1
The Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 shall be amended as follows.
2
The following sections shall be inserted after section 17 (offences triable on indictment or summarily)—

Initial procedure: accused to indicate intention as to plea.
17A
1
This section shall have effect where a person who has attained the age of 18 years appears or is brought before a magistrates’ court on an information charging him with an offence triable either way.
2
Everything that the court is required to do under the following provisions of this section must be done with the accused present in court.
3
The court shall cause the charge to be written down, if this has not already been done, and to be read to the accused.
4
The court shall then explain to the accused in ordinary language that he may indicate whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead guilty or not guilty, and that if he indicates that he would plead guilty—
a
the court must proceed as mentioned in subsection (6) below; and
b
he may be committed for sentence to the Crown Court under section 38 below if the court is of such opinion as is mentioned in subsection (2) of that section.
5
The court shall then ask the accused whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead guilty or not guilty.
6
If the accused indicates that he would plead guilty the court shall proceed as if—
a
the proceedings constituted from the beginning the summary trial of the information; and
b
section 9(1) above was complied with and he pleaded guilty under it.
7
If the accused indicates that he would plead not guilty section 18(1) below shall apply.
8
If the accused in fact fails to indicate how he would plead, for the purposes of this section and section 18(1) below he shall be taken to indicate that he would plead not guilty.
9
Subject to subsection (6) above, the following shall not for any purpose be taken to constitute the taking of a plea—
a
asking the accused under this section whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead guilty or not guilty;
b
an indication by the accused under this section of how he would plead.

Intention as to plea: absence of accused.
17B
1
This section shall have effect where—
a
a person who has attained the age of 18 years appears or is brought before a magistrates’ court on an information charging him with an offence triable either way,
b
the accused is represented by a legal representative,
c
the court considers that by reason of the accused’s disorderly conduct before the court it is not practicable for proceedings under section 17A above to be conducted in his presence, and
d
the court considers that it should proceed in the absence of the accused.
2
In such a case—
a
the court shall cause the charge to be written down, if this has not already been done, and to be read to the representative;
b
the court shall ask the representative whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) the accused would plead guilty or not guilty;
c
if the representative indicates that the accused would plead guilty the court shall proceed as if the proceedings constituted from the beginning the summary trial of the information, and as if section 9(1) above was complied with and the accused pleaded guilty under it;
d
if the representative indicates that the accused would plead not guilty section 18(1) below shall apply.
3
If the representative in fact fails to indicate how the accused would plead, for the purposes of this section and section 18(1) below he shall be taken to indicate that the accused would plead not guilty.
4
Subject to subsection (2)(c) above, the following shall not for any purpose be taken to constitute the taking of a plea—
a
asking the representative under this section whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) the accused would plead guilty or not guilty;
b
an indication by the representative under this section of how the accused would plead.

Intention as to plea: adjournment.
17C
A magistrates’ court proceeding under section 17A or 17B above may adjourn the proceedings at any time, and on doing so on any occasion when the accused is present may remand the accused, and shall remand him if—
a
on the occasion on which he first appeared, or was brought, before the court to answer to the information he was in custody or, having been released on bail, surrendered to the custody of the court; or
b
he has been remanded at any time in the course of proceedings on the information;
and where the court remands the accused, the time fixed for the resumption of proceedings shall be that at which he is required to appear or be brought before the court in pursuance of the remand or would be required to be brought before the court but for section 128(3A) below.
3
In section 18(1) (initial procedure) after “either way” there shall be inserted
and—
a
he indicates under section 17A above that (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead not guilty, or
b
his representative indicates under section 17B above that (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead not guilty
.
4
In section 19 (court to consider which mode of trial appears more suitable) paragraph (a) of subsection (2) (charge to be read to accused) shall be omitted.
5
In—
a
subsections (1A), (3A), (3C) and (3E) of section 128 (remand), and
b
subsection (1) of section 130 (transfer of remand hearings),
after “10(1)” there shall be inserted “ , 17C ”.
6
This section applies where a person appears or is brought before a magistrates’ court on or after the appointed day, unless he has appeared or been brought before such a court in respect of the same offence on a previous occasion falling before that day.
7
The reference in subsection (6) to the appointed day is to such day as is appointed for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State by order.
S. 49(7) power wholly exercised (8.9.1997): 1.10.1997 appointed day by S.I. 1997/2199.
S. 49(4) repealed (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. 37 Pt. 4; S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(d)(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)(d), 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)(d)(2)(3) (with arts. 3, 4)