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Criminal Courts in Great Britain

A person charged by the Police with an offence is sent to a magistrates’ court. There

are about 400 magistrates’ courts in England and Wales, tliey are to be found in eveiy

town and sit at least twice a week. Magistrates’ courts are presided over by groups of

tliree unpaid lay magistrates (known as ‘justices of the peace' or JPs).

- There are also a smali number of stipendiary magistrates (tliey are appointed from

among barristers of long standing) - full-time, legally-qualified magistrates who sit

alone.

Magistrates hear and decide in cases conceming minor offences in magistrates’ and district courts and refer morę serious cases to the Crown Court. The Crown Court deals with trials of a morę serious naturę or appeals from magistrates' courts and is presided over by a judge, who must be a barrister or solicitor with at least ten years experience. In London, criminals accused of serious offences are tried at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court.

Magistrates’ courts deal with certain minor ąuestions, wliile morę important matters are dealt with in the High Court of Justice, which is both a court of first instance and of appeal.