Section 2: Trial of summary offences

Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 · 1980 c.43

Part I: Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure

2(1)

A magistrates' court has jurisdiction to try any summary offence.

2(2)

A magistrates' court has jurisdiction under sections 51 and 51A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in respect of any offence committed by a person who appears or is brought before the court.

2(3)

Subject to—

(a) sections 18 to 22A , and

(b) any other enactment (wherever contained) relating to the mode of trial of offences triable either way,

a magistrates' court has jurisdiction to try summarily any offence which is triable either way.

2(4)

A magistrates' court has jurisdiction, in the exercise of its powers under section 24, to try summarily an indictable offence.

2(5)

This section does not affect any jurisdiction over offences conferred on a magistrates' court by any enactment not contained in this Act.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.