Criminal Law Act 1827

Criminal Law Act 1827[1]
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for further improving the Administration of Justice in Criminal Cases in England.
Citation7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 28
Territorial extent England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent21 June 1827
Commencement1 July 1827
Repealed1967
Other legislation
Amended byInterpretation Act 1889
Repealed byCriminal Law Act 1967
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Criminal Law Act 1827 (7 & 8 Geo. 4. c. 28) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, applicable only to England and Wales. It abolished many obsolete procedural devices in English criminal law, particularly the benefit of clergy. It was repealed by the Criminal Law Act 1967.

The act has sixteen parts. Parts I - V concerned the formalities of pleading, Parts VI - VII abolished benefit of clergy, Parts VIII - X dealt with the punishment of felonies, Part XI created offences related to fraudulent certificates of indictment, Part XII covered criminal cases handled by the Court of Admiralty, Part XIII made provision for pardons, and Parts XIV - XVI were interpretation and jurisdiction provisions.

Similar provision was made for Ireland by the Criminal Law (Ireland) Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 54).

  1. ^ The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.