Section 27A: Power to transfer criminal proceedings

Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 · 1980 c.43

Part I: Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure

27A(1)

Where a person appears or is brought before a magistrates' court—

(a) to be tried by the court for an offence, or

(b) for the court to inquire into the offence as examining justices,

the court may transfer the matter to another magistrates' court.

27A(2)

The court may transfer the matter before or after beginning the trial or inquiry.

27A(3)

But if the court transfers the matter after it has begun to hear the evidence and the parties, the court to which the matter is transferred must begin hearing the evidence and the parties again.

27A(4)

The power of the court under this section to transfer any matter must be exercised in accordance with any directions given under section 30(3) of the Courts Act 2003.

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.