Course description
Overview
This course will deal with the practices and procedures concerning both offences and complaints in the Magistrates’ Court. The practices and procedures vary according to the nature of the offence under consideration. Indictable only offences must be sent to the Crown Court. Either-way offences may be tried in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court – there will be a consideration of committals under the Sentencing Act 2020. Consideration will also be given to the amendments brought about by the Stalking Protection Act 2019, the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019, Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018, the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 and the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. There will also be a consideration of the 2020 Criminal Procedure Rules.
Who is this for?
This course will be of benefit to anyone attending the Adult Magistrates’ Court. It will also be hugely beneficial for anyone responsible for advising defendants or respondents who face proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court. Whether you are defending or prosecuting or advising the justices’ themselves; this course will give you a thorough grounding in the current practices and procedures in the Adult Magistrates’ Court.
What will you learn?
The following is just a sample of 12 items which will be considered during the course
- Indictable only offences – Sending’s under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998
- Written charges and requisitions and the Single Justice Procedure under the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
- Complaints in the Magistrates’ Court and how the practice and procedure of a complainant is materially different to that of the practice and procedure of an offence
- Either-way offences – the procedure known as Allocation and Sending
- Possible committals for sentence under what will be the new committal powers under the Sentencing Act 2020
- Summary-only offences which must be dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court
- Theft by way of low-value shoplifting – a very strange offence, procedurally
- Either-way offences which the court may deem to be summary – low-value criminal damage – low-value damage (aggravated vehicle taking)
- Ancillary Orders (including having to register as a sex offender in certain circumstances upon conviction under the Voyeurism (offences) Act 2019
- The practice and procedure when a child or young person appears in the Adult Magistrates’ Court jointly charged with an adult
- Case management – the hugely important Rule 3 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2020
- Knife Crime Prevention Orders under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019
PSC Elective
This course may be taken as a PSC elective, although it may also be attended by non-trainees.
SRA Competence
B, COther related courses
Advising At The Police Station - Core knowledge & Skills
Criminal Advocacy - Bail & Mitigation
Criminal Advocacy - Magistrates' Court Trials
Criminal Advocacy - The Youth Court
Essential Criminal Law
Road Traffic Law - A Practical Guide
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