Search Legislation

Criminal Justice Act 1925

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: Criminal Justice Act 1925

 Help about opening options

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

Criminal Justice Act 1925 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 11 December 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 :

Legislation Crest

Criminal Justice Act 1925

1925 CHAPTER 86 15 and 16 Geo 5

An Act to amend the law with respect to the administration of criminal justice in England, and otherwise to amend the criminal law.

[22nd December 1925]F1

Textual Amendments

F1Act repealed as it extends to the Isle of Man (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 11(5)

Commencement Information

I1Act partly in force at 1.1.1926 and wholly in force at 1.7.1926 by s. 49(5) (now repealed)

Part IE+W

1—10.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2E+W

Part IIE+W Jurisdiction and Procedure

Indictable Offences generallyE+W

11

(1), (2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

F4(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3

12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5E+W

13

(1), (2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

F7(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9

14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10E+W

Textual Amendments

15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11E+W

Textual Amendments

16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12E+W

17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13E+W

18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14E+W

19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15E+W

20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16E+W

Textual Amendments

21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F17E+W

22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18E+W

23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F19E+W

Textual Amendments

Summary JurisdictionE+W

24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F20E+W

25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21E+W

26, 27.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22E+W

28 Summary proceedings for offence under s. 3, and amendments of ss. 3 and 4, of Perjury Act, 1911.E+W

(1)Section three of the Perjury Act, 1911 (which relates to false statements as to marriages) shall have effect as though at the end of subsection (1) thereof there were inserted the words “and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds”.

(2)A person convicted summarily of an offence under section four of thePerjury Act, 1911 (which relates to false statements as to births or deaths), shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds.

(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2The text of s. 28(1)(2), (S. 28 (2) now spent), is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F24E+W

30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F25E+W

31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F26E+W

MiscellaneousE+W

32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F27E+W

33 Procedure on charge of offence against corporation. E+W

F28(1), (2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)[F29On arraignment of a corporation, the corporation may], enter in writing by its representative a plea of guilty or not guilty, and if either the corporation does not appear by a representative or, though it does so appear, fails to enter as aforesaid any plea, the court shall order a plea of not guilty to be entered and the trial shall proceed as though the corporation had duly entered a plea of not guilty.

(4)Provision may be made by rules under the M1Indictments Act 1915 with respect to the service on any corporation charged with an indictable offence of any documents requiring to be served in connection with the proceedings F30....

F28(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)In this section the expression “representative” in relation to a corporation means a person duly appointed by the corporation to represent it for the purpose of doing any act or thing which the representative of a corporation is by this section authorized to do, but a person so appointed shall not, by virtue only of being so appointed, be qualified to act on behalf of the corporation before any court for any other purpose.

A representative for the purposes of this section need not be appointed under the seal of the corporation, and a statement in writing purporting to be signed by a managing director of the corporation, or by any person (by whatever name called) having, or being one of the persons having, the management of the affairs of the corporation, to the effect that the person named in the statement has been appointed as the representative of the corporation for the purposes of this section shall be admissible without further proof as prima facie evidence that that person has been so appointed.

Textual Amendments

F28Ss. 31, 32, 33(1)(2)(5) repealed by Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 (c. 55), s. 132, Sch. 6

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4S. 33 applied by Companies Act 1989 (c. 40, SIF 27), ss. 44(3), 91(3) (the application being in force as regards s. 91(3) and as regards s. 44(3) being in force (1.3.1990) for certain purposes only as mentioned in S.I. 1990/142, Sch. and otherwise (1.10.1991) see s. 44(3) and S.I. 1991/1996, art. 2(1)(a)

C6S. 33 extended (6.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/2827, reg. 70(3)

C12S. 33 applied (20.1.2007 for specified purposes, 6.4.2007 for specified purposes, 1.10.2007 for specified purposes, 6.4.2008 for specified purposes, 1.10.2008 for specified purposes, 1.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1130(2)(b)(i), 1300(2) (with s. 1133); S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (with arts. 6, 8(2)); S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with arts. 4, 11(1)); S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with arts. 7, 12); S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with arts. 7, 12); S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with arts. 7, 8, Sch. 2 para. 1)

C14S. 33 applied (1.2.2007 for W. for specified purposes, 2.4.2007 for W. for specified purposes, 1.7.2007 for E. for specified purposes, 22.4.2008 for E.W.S. for specified purposes, 13.12.2008 for W. for specified purposes, 1.8.2012 for N.I. for specified purposes) by Health Act 2006 (c. 28), ss. 77(4)(a), 83(4)(a)(6)(b), (7); S.I. 2007/204, arts. 2(c), 3(c); S.I. 2007/1375, art. 2(b); S.I. 2008/1147, art. 3(b)(c); S.I. 2008/3171, art. 2(b); S.R. 2012/307, art. 2(b)

C15S. 33 applied (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), ss. 207(4), 277(3)(b)(4)(5)

C23S. 33 applied (12.1.2009 for specified purposes) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), ss. 92(3), 170(3)(4); S.I. 2008/3168, art. 2

C26S. 33 applied by Administration of Justice Act 1985 (c. 61), s. 10(7) (as substituted (31.3.2009) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), s. 211(2), Sch. 16 para. 83(4) (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/503, art. 2(b)(ii))

C28S. 33 applied (1.5.2009 for specified purposes, 1.11.2009 in so far as not already in force) by The Payment Services Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/209), regs. 1(2)(b)(c), 118(4)(a) (with reg. 3)

C52S. 33 applied (with modifications) (30.12.2011) by The Wine Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2936), regs. 1(2), 16(2)(b) (with reg. 3(9))

C58S. 33 applied (with modifications) (1.3.2014) by The Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/195), regs. 1, 15(2)(b)

C67S. 33 applied (temp. until 24.2.2022) (24.2.2015) by The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/108), regs. 1(b), 15(4)(b)

C70S. 33 applied (1.4.2015) by Care Act 2014 (c. 23), ss. 94(5), 127(1); S.I. 2015/993, art. 2(w) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2015/995)

C82S. 33 applied (25.11.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 29(4)(b)(i), 30(3)(b)(i), 94(1); S.I. 2016/1037, reg. 4(c)

C85S. 33 applied (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 30.9.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Finances Act 2017 (c. 22), ss. 50(2)(b)(i), 58(5)(6); S.I. 2017/739, reg. 3

C99S. 33 applied (temp.) (W.) (11.7.2020 for specified purposes, 13.7.2020 in so far as not already in force) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/725), regs. 1(3)(4), 20(10) (with reg. 5)

C104S. 33 applied (W.) (1.12.2020) by Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020 (asc 2), ss. 7(4), 12 (with ss. 9, 10)

C105S. 33 applied (temp.) (W.) (20.12.2020) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1609), regs. 1(3), 46(5) (with reg. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1610, regs. 1(2), 2(2); (17.5.2021 at 6.00 a.m.) by S.I. 2021/583, regs. 1(2), 2(2); (7.8.2021 at the beginning of the day) by S.I. 2021/925, regs. 1(2), 2(2)); and (25.11.2021) by S.I. 2021/1304, regs. 1(2), 2

C151S. 33 applied (10.1.2024 for specified purposes) by Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50), ss. 203(3)(b)(i), 240(1); S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(z25)

Marginal Citations

34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F31E+W

Part IIIE+W Amendments as to Offences

35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F32E+W

36 Forgery of passport. E+W

(1)[F33The forgery of any passport, or] the making by any person of a statement which is to his knowledge untrue for the purpose of procuring a passport, whether for himself or any other person, shall be a misdemeanour punishable with imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or both such imprisonment and fine.

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F34

37 Unlawful possession of pension documents.E+W

(1)If any person receives, detains or has in his possession any document to which this section applies as a pledge or a security for a debt or with a view to obtaining payment from the person entitled thereto of a debt due either to himself or to any other person, he shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F35level 3 on the standard scale], or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2)This section applies to certificates or official documents evidencing or issued in connection with the right of persons to pensions or allowances payable out of any grant which may be made out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom in pursuance of any Act for civil non–effective services.

Textual Amendments

F35Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 82), ss. 38, 46

38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F36E+W

39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F37E+W

40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F38E+W

Textual Amendments

41 Prohibition on taking photographs, &c., in court.E+W

(1)No person shall—

(a)take or attempt to take in any court any photograph, or with a view to publication make or attempt to make in any court any portrait or sketch, of any person, being a judge of the court or a juror or a witness in or a party to any proceedings before the court, whether civil or criminal; or

(b)publish any photograph, portrait or sketch taken or made in contravention of the foregoing provisions of this section or any reproduction thereof;

and if any person acts in contravention of this section he shall, on summary conviction, be liable in respect of each offence to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

[F39(1ZA)Subsection (1) does not apply to anything done in accordance with a direction under section 85A of the Courts Act 2003 (remote observation and recording of court and tribunal proceedings).]

[F40(1A)See section 32 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 for power to provide for [F41further] exceptions.]

(2)For the purposes of this section—

[F42(a)the expression “court” means any court of justice (including the court of a coroner), apart from the Supreme Court;]

(b)the expression “Judge” includes . . . F43, registrar, magistrate, justice and coroner:

(c)a photograph, portrait or sketch shall be deemed to be a photograph, portrait or sketch taken or made in court if it is taken or made in the court–room or in the building or in the precincts of the building in which the court is held, or if it is a photograph, portrait or sketch taken or made of the person while he is entering or leaving the court–room or any such building or precincts as aforesaid.

42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F44E+W

43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F45E+W

Textual Amendments

Part IVE+W Miscellaneous and General

44, 45.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F46E+W

46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F47E+W

F4847 Abolition of presumption of coercion of married woman by husband.E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F49E+W

49 Short title, interpretation, extent, repeal and commencement.E+W

(1)This Act may be cited as the Criminal Justice Act 1925.

F50(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)This Act shall not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland, and references therein to warrants issued shall not be construed as including warrants issued elsewhere than in England or Wales.

(4), (5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F51

Textual Amendments

F50S. 49(2) 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. 3 para. 32, Sch. 37 Pt. 4; S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(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)(c)(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)(c)(d)(2)(3) (with arts. 3 4)

F52F52SCHEDULE 1E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F53F53SCHEDULE 2E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F54F54SCHEDULE 3E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

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