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Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980
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Changes over time for: Section 17A
Changes to legislation:
Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, Section 17A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 20 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 17A:
- s. 17A(7) words substituted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(c)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
- Act applied by 2017 anaw 2 Sch. 3 para. 18(5)
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 1(6A) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 36 para. 8(5)
- s. 1(6A) words substituted by 2015 c. 2 Sch. 11 para. 3(4) (Effect not applied as (6A) was only inserted prospectively.)
- s. 1(7A) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 36 para. 8(6)
- s. 12(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 4(3)
- s. 12(5A)-(5F) inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 4(6)
- s. 17A(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(2)(b)
- s. 17B(1A)-(1F) substituted for s. 17B(1) by 2022 c. 35 s. 9(2)(b)
- s. 17B(5) inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 9(2)(d)
- s. 17BA inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 7
- s. 17ZA-17ZC inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 6(2)
- s. 18(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 18(1) by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(7)(a)
- s. 18(4A)(4B) inserted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(7)(b)
- s. 18(6) inserted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(7)(c)
- s. 20(7A)(7B) inserted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(8)(c)
- s. 22(2A)-(2E) inserted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(9)(a)
- s. 22A(1A)-(1E) inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 6(3)(b)
- s. 23(1A)-(1G) substituted for s. 23(1) by 2022 c. 35 s. 9(4)(b)
- s. 23(4A)(4B) inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 9(4)(d)
- s. 24A(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 35 Sch. 2 para. 6(11)(b)
- s. 24BA inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 9(5)
- s. 24ZA 24ZB inserted by 2022 c. 35 s. 8
- s. 75A inserted by 2013 c. 22 s. 26(1)
- s. 85(5) inserted by 2013 c. 22 s. 26(4)
- s. 139A inserted by 2013 c. 22 s. 26(6)
- s. 145(1A) inserted by 2010 c. 26 Sch. 3 para. 8(3) (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Sch. 3 Pt. 2 repealed (4.9.2013) without ever being in force by 2013 c. 22, s. 17(4) ; S.I. 2013/2200 art. 2(a))
- s. 145(1A) repealed by 2010 c. 26 Sch. 4 Pt. 2 (This amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. Sch. 4 Pt. 2 repealed (4.9.2013) without ever being in force by 2013 c. 22, s. 17(4) ; S.I. 2013/2200 art. 2(a))
- Sch. 6A (entry) by 2000 c. 43 Sch. 7 para. 69
F1[17A Initial procedure: accused to indicate intention as to plea.E+W
(1)This section shall have effect where a person who has attained the age of 18 years appears or is brought before a magistrates’ court on an information charging him with an offence triable either way.
(2)Everything that the court is required to do under the following provisions of this section must be done with the accused present in court.
(3)The court shall cause the charge to be written down, if this has not already been done, and to be read to the accused.
(4)The court shall then explain to the accused in ordinary language that he may indicate whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead guilty or not guilty, and that if he indicates that he would plead guilty—
(a)the court must proceed as mentioned in subsection (6) below; and
[F2(b)he may (unless section 17D(2) below were to apply) be committed [for sentence] to the Crown Court under [F3section 14 or (if applicable) 15 of the Sentencing Code] if the court is of such opinion as is mentioned in [F4subsection (1)(b)] of the applicable section.]
(5)The court shall then ask the accused whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead guilty or not guilty.
(6)If the accused indicates that he would plead guilty the court shall proceed as if—
(a)the proceedings constituted from the beginning the summary trial of the information; and
(b)section 9(1) above was complied with and he pleaded guilty under it.
(7)If the accused indicates that he would plead not guilty section 18(1) below shall apply.
(8)If the accused in fact fails to indicate how he would plead, for the purposes of this section and section 18(1) below he shall be taken to indicate that he would plead not guilty.
(9)Subject to subsection (6) above, the following shall not for any purpose be taken to constitute the taking of a plea—
(a)asking the accused under this section whether (if the offence were to proceed to trial) he would plead guilty or not guilty;
(b)an indication by the accused under this section of how he would plead.]
[F5(10)If in respect of the offence the court receives a notice under section 51B or 51C of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (which relate to serious or complex fraud cases and to certain cases involving children respectively), the preceding provisions of this section and the provisions of section 17B below shall not apply, and the court shall proceed in relation to the offence in accordance with section 51 or, as the case may be, section 51A of that Act.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 17A-17C inserted (4.7.1996 with application where a person appears or is brought before a magistrates' court on or after 1.10.1997) by 1996 c. 25, s. 49(2)(6) (with s. 78(1)); S.I. 1997/2199, art. 2
F2S. 17A(4)(b) substituted (18.6.2012 for specified purposes, 5.11.2012 for specified purposes, 28.5.2013 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 2(2); S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(d)(2)(3) (with art. 5) (see S.I. 2012/2574, art. 4(2) and S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2012/2574, art. 2(2)(3)(c)(d), Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (4.11.2012) by S.I. 2012/2761, art. 2) (with S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2013/1103, art. 2(1)(c)(2)(3) (with arts. 3 4)
F3Words in s. 17A(4)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 44(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
F4Words in s. 17A(4)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 44(b) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
F5S. 17A(10) inserted (18.6.2012 for specified purposes, 5.11.2012 for specified purposes, 28.5.2013 for specified purposes) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 3 para. 2(3);S.I. 2012/1320, art. 4(1)(c)(d)(2)(3) (with art. 5) (see S.I. 2012/2574, art. 4(2) and S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2012/2574, art. 2(2)(3)(c)(d), Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (4.11.2012) by S.I. 2012/2761, art. 2) (with S.I. 2013/1103, art. 4); S.I. 2013/1103, art. 2(1)(c)(2)(3) (with arts. 3 4)
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