This Order brings into force the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) specified in article 2, for the purposes of the criminal proceedings specified in article 3, with effect from 9th June 2008.

The effect of the Order is that a police force, or a person authorised by a police force to institute criminal proceedings, may, under section 29 of the 2003 Act, institute criminal proceedings by issuing a written charge and requisition in a magistrates’ court sitting in any of the locations specified in article 3.

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 16) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1999) gave effect to the same provisions in the 2003 Act in relation to proceedings instituted in certain other magistrates’ courts.