Summary offence
The least serious kind of offence, dealt with only in a magistrates’ court.
A summary offence can only be tried in a magistrates’ court. There is no jury. The MoJ gives motoring offences such as speeding and driving while disqualified, minor assaults and TV licence evasion as examples.
Most criminal cases in England and Wales are summary cases, and many finish at the first hearing.
Official sources
- A guide to criminal court statistics (Ministry of Justice)
- Interpretation Act 1978, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Magistrates’ courts (GOV.UK)
This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official sources above are the authority.
See also
How long justice takes · Courts · How a case moves from charge to sentence · All explainers
