The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a consolidation act.The Public General Acts and General Synod Measures 1980. HMSO. London. . Part IV. Pages i, j and i. It codifies the procedures applicable in the magistrates' courts of England and Wales and largely replaces the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 (15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 55). Part I of the act sets out provisions in relation to the courts' criminal jurisdiction, and Part II in relation to civil proceedings.
Provisions Section 1 of the act empowers a justice of the peace to issue a summons or arrest warrant alleging the commission of a crime against an identifiable person. Section 127 of the act establishes a six-month limitation period for summary (but not indictable) offences.
Repealed enactments Section 154(3) of the act repealed 31 enactments, listed in schedule 9 to the act.
+ Enactments repealed by section 154(3)CitationShort titleExtent of repeal12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 101Justices of the Peace Act 1949Section 15(1), (2), (3), (7), (8) and (9).15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 55Magistrates' Courts Act 1952The whole act.5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 29Magistrates' Courts Act 1957The whole act.6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 39Maintenance Orders Act 1958Section 16.Section 20(6).7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 72Mental Health Act 1959In Schedule 7, in Part I, the entry relating to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952.7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 73Legitimacy Act 1959Section 5(2).9 & 10 Eliz. 2. c. 39Criminal Justice Act 1961In section 1(5) the words " and subsections (2) and (3) of section twenty-eight of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 ".Section 8(3).In section 41(4), the words " section twenty-eight of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952".In Schedule 4, the entries relating to sections 28 and 126 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952.In Schedule 6, the text of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952, section 28.1963 c. 37Children and Young Persons Act 1963Section 27.1964 c. 42Administration of Justice Act 1964Section 11.In Schedule 3, paragraphs 20(2) and 22(3) and (5).1965 c. 69Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) Act 1965In Schedule 2, in Part I, the entry relating to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952.1967 c. 80Criminal Justice Act 1967Sections 1 to 6.Section 19.In section 20, the words " or section 28 or 29 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 (committal for sentence)".Section 24.Section 26.Sections 28 to 30.In section 33, the words from the beginning to " that section and ".In section 36(1), the definitions of " broadcast " and " publish ".Sections 44, 44A and 45.In section 50, the words from the beginning to " Part of that Act".Section 56(4).In section 89(1), the words " 2 or ".In section 90(1) the words " an order under section 44(8) or ".Section 94.In section 106(2)(6), the figure " 3 ".In Schedule 6, paragraphs 9 to 13 and 17 to 20.1968 c. 69Justices of the Peace Act 1968In Schedule 3, paragraph 8.1969 c. 54Children and Young Persons Act 1969Section 6.Section 10(3).Section 61.In Schedule 4, paragraph 4.1970 c. 31Administration of Justice Act 1970Section 12.In section 28(1), the definitions of " the Act of 1952 " and " magistrates' court maintenance order ".Section 30(1) and (2) as respects section 12.Section 41(6).Section 42.Section 50.In section 51, subsection (1), and in subsection (3) the definition of " the Act of 1952 ".1971 c. 23Courts Act 1971Section 7(1).In Schedule 8, paragraph 34, in paragraph 48(b) in the words " 56(4)(6) " the word " (4) ", and paragraph 52.In Schedule 9, in Part I, the entry relating to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952.1972 c. 18Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972Section 22(2)(6).1972 c. 70Local Government Act 1972In Schedule 27, paragraph 16.1972 c. 71Criminal Justice Act 1972Section 41.Sections 44 and 45.Section 50.In Schedule 5, the entries relating to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 and the entry relating to section 6(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.1973 c. 14Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973In Schedule 1, paragraph 1.1973 c. 29Guardianship Act 1973Section 9(2)(A).1973 c. 38Social Security Act 1973In Schedule 27, in paragraph 85, the words " and 12(2)(6)" and " (in each place) ".1973 c. 62Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973Section 35(5).In Schedule 5, paragraphs 4, 5, 7, 16 and 34.1974 c. 4Legal Aid Act 1974In Schedule 4, paragraph 3.1975 c. 21Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975Section 326(2).In section 463(1)(6), the words " 326(2)".1976 c. 63Bail Act 1976In Schedule 2, paragraphs 14 to 29 and 35.1977 c. 45Criminal Law Act 1977Section 14.In section 15, in subsection (1), paragraph (b) and the word " and " immediately preceding it, and, in subsection (3), paragraph (a).Section 16.Sections 18 to 27.In section 28, subsections (1) to (7) and in subsection (8) the words from " and subsection (2) above " to the end.Section 29.Section 30(4).Section 32(2).Sections 34 and 35.In section 36, subsections (2) to (8) and in subsection (9) the definitions of " guardian " and " the statutory restrictions upon the imprisonment of young offenders ".Sections 41 and 42.Section 45.In section 58, subsections (1), (4) and (6).Sections 59 to 61.In section 63(2), in the entry relating to section 65(4) and Schedule 12 so far as they relate to the Criminal Justice Act 1967, the words " 3 and ".In section 65(10)(e) the words from " and the provisions " to " all such places (except Scotland)".Schedule 2.Schedule 3.Schedule 4.In Schedule 5, paragraph 1(2)(a) and (b).In Schedule 7, paragraph 1.Schedule 8.In Schedule 12, the entries relating to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952, the entries relating to sections 3, 24, 44(5) and 44A of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, and paragraphs 2 and 3 of the entries relating to the Criminal Justice Act 1972.In Schedule 14, paragraph 2, in paragraph 3(1) the words " or 2 ", paragraph 4, and in paragraph 5 the words " (other than section 29 or any provision mentioned in paragraph 4 above)".1978 c. 22Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978Sections 75 to 85.In Schedule 1, in paragraph 5 the words "or in any of sections 79 to 82 ", paragraph 6 and paragraph 7.In Schedule 2, paragraphs 15 and 21.1978 c. 37Protection of Children Act 1978Section 2(2).1979 c. 55Justices of the Peace Act 1979In Schedule 2, paragraphs 7 to 9 and paragraph 14.1980 c. 5Child Care Act 1980In Schedule 5, paragraph 5.1980 c. 11Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980In section 8(5), the words from " together with " to the end.
See also Magistrates' Courts Act Magistrates' court Magistrates' court (England and Wales)
Notes
References "Magistrates' Courts Act 1980". Current Law Statutes Annotated 1980. Volume 1. Chapter 43. "The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980". Halsbury's Statutes of England. Third Edition. Volume 50: Continuation Volume 1980. Butterworths. London. 1981. Volume 50(2). p 1433. Butterworths' Annotated Legislation Service. Volume 276. Blackstone's Criminal Practice 2012. pp 716, 723, 823, 843, 862, 889, 1004, 1355 to 1361, 1364, 1365, 1369, 1372, 1375, 1382, 1384, 1385, 1442, 1443, 1446, 1448, 1452, 1535, 1536, 1557, 1563, 1726, 1868, 1873, 1874, 1885, 1898, 1919, 1924, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1954, 1971, 2071, 2072, 2250, 2884, 2913, 2929 & 2932. Adrian Keane and Paul McKeown. The Modern Law of Evidence. 14th Edition. Oxford University Press. 2022. pp 64 to 68 and 146.
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