criminal offences

• summary offences:

  • least serious offence
  • heard at the magistrates court
  • offences like driving offences, common assault, criminal damages less than £5k and shoplifting less than £200
• triable - either - way:

  • middle range offences
  • offences like theft, ABH
  • tried in either Magistrates/ Crown court - if D pleads guilty: magistrates
  • if D pleads not guilty - right to ask to be tried in crown
  • magistrates can also ask for the case to be heard by the crown court if the case is too serious
• indictable offence:

  • most serious crimes
  • only heard in crown court
  • for example rape and murder