Blackstone's Magistrates' Court Handbook 2023

Anthony Edwards is a retired Senior Partner of T.V. Edwards. He served at almost every level of committee in the criminal justice system, as well as the Council of Justice, and sat on the editorial boards of Criminal Law Review and Cordery on Solicitors, and as a member of the Law Commission's advisory group on criminal law. He has authored Police Station Adviser's handbook (LAG) and, with Roger Ede, Criminal Defence, A Guide to Good Practice (Law Society). He wrote the Criminal Law Update for the Law Society's Gazette and his articles have appeared in Archbold News and Criminal Law Review. Bartholomew Dalton is a solicitor and key member of the Serious and General Crime team at top-ranked London criminal defence firm Hickman & Rose. He is an experienced litigator and advocate in the Magistrates' Courts and is a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 legal directory. Bartholomew is a committee member and the law reform officer for the London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association.

Part A Procedure and Evidence

Chapter A1 Abuse of Process
Chapter A2 Adjournments
Chapter A3 Admissibility and Exclusion of Evidence
Chapter A4 Allocation and Plea before Venue
Chapter A5 Amending Charge
Chapter A6 Appeals and Reopening
Chapter A7 Bad Character
Chapter A8 Bail
Chapter A9 Binding Rulings
Chapter A10 Case Management
Chapter A11 Civil Orders
Chapter A12 Commencing Proceedings: Time Limits
Chapter A13 Costs
Chapter A14 Court- Appointed Legal Representatives
Chapter A15 Custody Time Limits
Chapter A16 Disclosure
Chapter A17 Hearsay
Chapter A18 Identification Evidence
Chapter A19 Legal Aid
Chapter A20 Mental Disorder
Chapter A21 Misbehaviour at Court
Chapter A22 Presence of Defendant and Prosecutor in Court
Chapter A23 Pre- Charge Hearings
Chapter A24 Remand Periods
Chapter A25 Reporting Restrictions
Chapter A26 Sending and Transfer for Trial
Chapter A27 Special Measures and Vulnerable Witnesses
Chapter A28 Submission of No Case
Chapter A29 Transfer/ Remittal of Criminal Cases
Chapter A30 Video/ Live Links
Chapter A31 Witnesses, Issue of Summons, or Warrant

Part B Youths in the Adult Court

Chapter B1 Age of Offender and the Position of Those Attaining 18
Chapter B2 Bail
Chapter B3 Breach of Orders, and New Offences Committed during an Order
Chapter B4 Jurisdiction of the Adult Magistrates Court over Youths
Chapter B5 Managing the Case
Chapter B6 Remittal to the Youth Court for Trial/ Sentence
Chapter B7 Reporting Restrictions
Chapter B8 Sentencing

Part C Offences

Chapter C1 Animal Offences
Chapter C2 Breach Offences
Chapter C3 Administration of Justice
Chapter C4 Communication Network Offences
Chapter C5 Computer Misuse
Chapter C6 Criminal Damage
Chapter C7 Drugs
Chapter C8 Harassment Offences
Chapter C9 Immigration and Document Offences
Chapter C10 Prison Offences
Chapter C11 Public Order
Chapter C12 Road Traffic Offences Definitions
Chapter C13 Road Traffic Offences
Chapter C14 Sexual Offences
Chapter C15 Dishonesty and Offences against Property
Chapter C16 Offences against the Person
Chapter C17 Weapons Offences

Part D Sentencing

Chapter D1 Alteration of Sentence
Chapter D2 Banning Orders (Football)
Chapter D3 Breach of Post-sentence Supervision
Chapter D4 Committal for Sentence
Chapter D5 Community Orders: Imposition and Breach
Chapter D6 Compensation Order
Chapter D7 Confiscation: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
Chapter D8 Criminal Behaviour Orders
Chapter D9 Custodial Sentences
Chapter D10 Dangerous Offenders
Chapter D11 Deferment of Sentence
Chapter D12 Deprivation Order
Chapter D13 Detention in Young Offender Institution
Chapter D14 Discharges: Conditional and Absolute
Chapter D15 Discounts for Early Plea
Chapter D16 Disqualification from Driving
Chapter D17 Fines
Chapter D18 Forfeiture Order
Chapter D19 Mental Health Disposals
Chapter D20 Minimum Sentences
Chapter D21 Newton Hearings
Chapter D22 Notification Requirements
Chapter D23 Offences Taken into Consideration (TICs) and the Totality Principle
Chapter D24 Penalty Points for Driving Offences
Chapter D25 Pre- Sentence Reports
Chapter D26 Prevention Orders
Chapter D27 Prosecution Costs
Chapter D28 Racially and Religiously Aggravated Crimes; Sexual Orientation, Disability, or Transgender Identity
Chapter D29 Restraining Order
Chapter D30 Sentencing Guidelines
Chapter D31 Suspended Sentences
Chapter D32 Time on Remand or Qualifying Curfew
Chapter D33 Victim Surcharge Order