Criminal Justice Act 1972

• Citation: 1972 c. 71
• Sections: 20

Section 23

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Section 24 Driving disqualification where vehicle used for purposes of crime.

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(4) References in this section to facilitating the commission of an offence include references to the taking of any steps after it has been committed for the purpose of disposing of any property to which it relates or of avoiding apprehension or detection.

Section 28 Punishment for firearms offences.

(1) The fourth column in Part I of Schedule 6 to the Firearms Act 1968 (which prescribes the maximum punishment by way of fines or imprisonment for offences under that Act) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In the entries prescribing the punishment for offences under section 16 (possession of firearm with intent to endanger life) and section 17(1) (use of firearms to resist arrest) for the words “14 years” there shall be substituted the words “life imprisonment”.

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(4) In the entry prescribing the punishment for an offence under section 3(5) (falsifying certificate etc. with view to acquisition of firearm), where the offender has been convicted on indictment, for the words “a fine of £200” there shall be substituted the words “a fine”.

(5) In the entries prescribing the punishment for offences under the Act where the offender has been convicted summarily—

(a) for “£20” there shall be substituted “£50” ;

(b) for “£50” there shall be substituted “£100” ;

(c) for “£100” there shall be substituted “£200” ; and

(d) for “£200” there shall be substituted “£400”.

(6) In relation to offences under sections 16, 17(1), 17(2) and 18(1) of the said Act of 1968 a court in Scotland shall have the like power as a court in England or Wales to impose both a sentence of imprisonment and a fine.

Section 29 Possession of firearms by persons convicted of crime in Northern Ireland.

In section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 (possession of firearms and ammunition by persons previously convicted of crime) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (3)—

(3A) Where by section 19 of the Firearms Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, or by any other enactment for the time being in force in Northern Ireland and corresponding to this section, a person is prohibited in Northern Ireland from having a firearm or ammunition in his possession, he shall also be so prohibited in Great Britain at any time when to have it in his possession in Northern Ireland would be a contravention of the said section 19 or corresponding enactment

and in subsection (6) of that section (application to court for removal of prohibition) for the words “or (3)” there shall be substituted the words “(3) or (3A)”.

Section 31 Punishment for certain offences of Sunday trading.

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Section 32 Punishment for use of premises in breach of closing order.

In section 2791) of the Housing Act 1957 (which prescribes the maximum punishment for the use of premises in breach of a closing order) for the words “twenty pounds” there shall be substituted the words “£100”; and for the words “five pounds” there shall in relation to any day after the coming into force of this section be substituted the words “£20”

Section 33 Extension of definition of “public place” in Public Order Act 1936.

For the definition of “public place” in section 9(1) of the Public Order Act 1936 there shall be substituted—

“ Public place ” includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise ” .

Section 34 Power of constable to take drunken offender to treatment centre.

(1) On arresting an offender for an offence under—

(a) section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872; or

(b) section 91(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967,

a constable may, if he thinks fit, take him to any place approved for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State as a . . . treatment centre for alcoholics, and while a person is being so taken he shall be deemed to be in lawful custody.

(2) A person shall not by virtue of this section be liable to be detained in any such centre as aforesaid to which he has been taken, but the exercise in his case of the power conferred by this section shall not preclude his being charged with any offence.

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Section 36 Reference to Court of Appeal of point of law following acquittal on indictment.

(1) Where a person tried on indictment has been acquitted (whether in respect of the whole or part of the indictment) the Attorney General may, if he desires the opinion of the Court of Appeal on a point of law which has arisen in the case, refer that point to the court, and the court shall, in accordance with this section, consider the point and give their opinion on it.

(2) For the purpose of their consideration of a point referred to them under this section the Court of Appeal shall hear argument—

(a) by, or by counsel on behalf of, the Attorney General; and

(b) if the acquitted person desires to present any argument to the court, by counsel on his behalf or, with the leave of the court, by the acquitted person himself.

(3) Where the Court of Appeal have given their opinion on a point referred to them under this section, the court may, of their own motion or in pursuance of an application in that behalf, refer the point to Supreme Court if it appears to the Court of Appeal that the point ought to be considered by Supreme Court .

(4) If a point is referred to the Supreme Court under subsection (3) of this section, the Supreme Court shall consider the point and give its opinion on it accordingly.

(5) Where, in a point being referred to the Court of Appeal under this section or further referred to the Supreme Court , the acquitted person appears by counsel for the purpose of presenting any argument to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court , he shall be entitled ... to the payment out of central funds of such sums as are reasonably sufficient to compensate him for expenses properly incurred by him for the purpose of being represented on the reference or further reference; and any amount recoverable under this subsection shall be ascertained, as soon as practicable, by the registrar of criminal appeals or, as the case may be, such officer as may be prescribed by order of the House of Lords.

(5A) Subsection (5) has effect subject to—

(a) subsection (5B), and

(b) regulations under section 20(1A)(d) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (as applied by this section).

(5B) A person is not entitled under subsection (5) to the payment of sums in respect of legal costs (as defined in section 16A of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985) incurred in proceedings in the Court of Appeal.

(5C) Subsections (1A) to (1C) and (3) of section 20 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (regulations as to amounts ordered to be paid out of central funds) apply in relation to amounts payable out of central funds under subsection (5) as they apply in relation to amounts payable out of central funds in pursuance of costs orders made under section 16 of that Act.

(6) Subject to rules of court made under section 1(5) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1966 (power by rules to distribute business of Court of Appeal between its civil and criminal divisions), the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal under this section shall be exercised by the criminal division of the court; and references in this section to the Court of Appeal shall be construed accordingly as references to that division of the court.

(7) A reference under this section shall not affect the trial in relation to which the reference is made or any acquittal in that trial.

Section 46 Admissibility of written statements made outside England and Wales.

(1) . . . section 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 ( . . . written statements to be used as evidence in . . . criminal proceedings) . . . and section 89 of the said Act of 1967 ( . . . false statements which are tendered in evidence under the said section . . . 9 . . .) shall apply to written statements made in Scotland or Northern Ireland as well as to written statements made in England and Wales.

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Section 47 Summary trial of certain offences of arson.

In Schedule 1 to the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1952 (indictable offences triable summarily with the consent of the accused when adult), for paragraph 2 there shall be substituted the following paragraph, in lieu of that substituted by section 7(1) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 :—

(2) Offences under section 1(1) or section 1(1) and (3) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971 or under section 2 or 3 of that Act.

Section 48 Proceedings under Indecency with Children Act 1960.

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Section 51 Execution of process between England and Wales and Scotland.

(1) Where in any proceedings brought, or proposed to be brought, in respect of any person in pursuance of section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (care proceedings in youth court ) it is, or is to be, alleged that the condition set out in subsection (2)( f ) of that section is satisfied (guilty of an offence), any warrant issued under section 2(4) of that Act for the purpose of securing the attendance of that person before the court in which the proceedings are brought or proposed to be brought may, if it is endorsed with a statement that such an allegation as aforesaid is, or is to be, made in the proceedings, be executed in Scotland by any constable appointed for a police area in like manner as a warrant issued in Scotland for the arrest of a person charged with an offence.

(2) Where a warrant is issued for the apprehension of a child in pursuance of Part III of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, that warrant may be executed in England and Wales in like manner as a warrant issued in Scotland for the apprehension of a person charged with an offence, and sections 17(1) and 325(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 shall apply accordingly.

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Section 58 Amendment of Police (Property) Act 1897.

In section 1(1) of the Police (Property) Act 1897 (which makes provision for the disposal of property which has come into the possession of the police in connection with any criminal charge) for the words “with any criminal charge” there shall be substituted the words “with their investigation of a suspected offence”.

Section 59 Abolition of duty to re-convey certain prisons to local authorities.

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Section 60 Power of entry in connection with acquisition of land for prisons.

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Section 63 †Powers of Parliament of Northern Ireland.

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(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision in relation to Northern Ireland for corresponding purposes; and any Order under this section may be varied or revoked by a further Order.

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Section 64 Minor and consequential amendments and repeals.

(1) The enactments specified in Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments there specified, being minor amendments and amendments consequential on the provisions of this Act.

(2) The enactments specified in Schedule 6 to this Act (which include certain spent provisions) are hereby repealed to the extemt specified in the third column of that Schedule.

Section 65 Expenses and receipts.

There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament any expenses of the Secretary of State under this Act and any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of such moneys under any other Act; and any sums received by the Secretary of State in consequence of this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Section 66 Citation, interpretation, commencement and extent.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Justice Act 1972.

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(5) Except where the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, and as including a reference thereto as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

(6) This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made by statutory instrument, and different days may be so appointed for different provisions:

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(7) In this Act—

(a) sections 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 33, 35, 51 and this section, ... section 64(1) and Schedule 5 so far as they relate to the Road Traffic Act 1972 and section 64(2) and Schedule 6 so far as they relate to the Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Act 1908 and the Firearms Act 1968, extend to Scotland;

(b) section 63 and this section extend to Northern Ireland;

(c) section 64(1) and Schedule 5 so far as they relate to the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 extend to Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;

but, save as aforesaid, this Act extends to England and Wales only.