| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the jurisdiction of, and the practice and procedure before, magistrates' courts and the functions of justices' clerks, and to matters connected therewith, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1980 c. 43 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 1 August 1980 |
| Commencement | 6 July 1981[2] |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980[1] (c. 43) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a consolidation act.[3] It codifies the procedures applicable in the magistrates' courts of England and Wales and largely replaces the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952. Part I of the act sets out provisions in relation to the courts' criminal jurisdiction, and Part II in relation to civil proceedings.
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.
- ^ a b This short title was given by section 155(1).
- ^ Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, section 155(7); S.I. 1981/457
- ^ The Public General Acts and General Synod Measures 1980. HMSO. London. ISBN 0-11-840200-5. Part IV. Pages i, j and i.