Objections and adjournments

Objections to matters raised

1. Any objection to the information or summons, and any questions relating to the evidence or other procedural matters which are in issue, should be argued before you open the prosecution case.

Objections to the summons

2. A summons must describe the offence in ordinary language, giving reasonable details of the nature of the charge without necessarily stating all the elements, and must refer to the section of the Act or the regulation creating the offence.1 However, the clerk or the defence may object to a summons on the grounds that:

  • it does not comply with the above requirements; or
  • is incorrect; or
  • the information discloses more than one offence ("duplicity").

3. The court may ignore trivial errors which do no injustice to the defence. 2 In other circumstances, you will be required to amend the information. 3

4. If the summons needs to be more specific, or there is an error such as the misdescription of premises or the wrong name, leave should be given to amend. Leave will not be given to allow the substitution of the name of a different person. 4

5. If the defence has been misled by the error, an application for adjournment should be granted. 5

6. If the defence applies at court for an information to be dismissed because it is bad for duplicity,6 you may be able to dispose of the objection by pointing out that you have not charged separate offences, but have specified a number of different ways of committing a particular offence. 7

7. If the information is void for duplicity, the magistrates will require you to choose which offence to proceed with. If you refuse to elect, the information will be dismissed. 8

8. Once you have elected, the other offence(s) will be struck off the information. However, you may lay a further information for the offence which is struck off. If the magistrates agree, the case can be adjourned for a short time to allow the additional information to be prepared and given to the defendant there and then. The court will proceed to try the informations afresh, subject to any adjournment if the defendant has been unfairly prejudiced.

Adjournment

9. A magistrates' court may adjourn the proceedings at any time. The court must balance the interests of justice when considering any application for an adjournment. The court cannot have hard and fast rules for the granting or refusal of adjournments.

10. A case should not be adjourned because civil proceedings are pending and may be prejudiced. If points which you could not reasonably have foreseen arise during a trial, you may ask for an adjournment to obtain further evidence, but the court will not readily accept such an application.

11. If a voluntary witness fails to attend at the hearing of the summons, you should request an adjournment and make an application for a witness summons. You should also be in a position to show that the witness promised to attend.

12. When a case is adjourned, you must ensure that you agree a new hearing date with the court and that the witnesses are told the new date. You should determine witness availability before agreeing to a new trial date.

Footnotes

  1. Part 7.3 CPR 2015. Back
  2. For example, R v Norwich Crown Court, ex p. Russell [1993] Crim LR 518, DC: the defendant was convicted on an information giving the wrong date for the offence, but the Divisional Court held that there had been no prejudice to the defendant; also in New Southgate Metals Ltd v London Borough of Islington [1996] Crim LR 334, the defendant was convicted on an information giving the wrong statute, but the Divisional Court again held that the full particulars of the offence had been accurately set out in the information and there was no prejudice to the defendant. Back
  3. See Stone's [2008] 1-440. Back
  4. Marco (Croydon) Ltd. v Metropolitan Police [1984] RTR 24, [1983] Crim LR 395, followed in R v Greater Manchester Justices, ex parte Aldi GmbH & Co. KG [1994] TLR 678, 28 December, drew a distinction between cases where the right person had received the summons and know it was intended for him and was not prejudiced in any way (amendment allowed) and those where the wrong defendant (of a group of companies) had been summonsed (amendment not permissible). Back
  5. Morriss v Lawrence [1977] Crim LR 170. Back
  6. For example, under the Power Presses Regulations 1965, reg.4(i): no person shall set, re-set, adjust or try out the tools on a power press. Back
  7. MCA 1980, s.10. Back
  8. R v Evans (1890) 54 JP 471. Back

Link URLs in this page

  1. Enforcementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/index.htm
  2. Enforcement guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/index.htm
  3. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/intro.htm
  4. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/index.htm
  5. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-intro.htm
  6. Order of collecting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-order.htm
  7. Witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-witness.htm
  8. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-questioning.htm
  9. Admissibility of confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-admissibility.htm
  10. Inferences from silencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-inferences.htm
  11. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-intro.htm
  12. Evidence that may assist your investigationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-evidence.htm
  13. Obtaining evidence using section 20 powershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-obtaining.htm
  14. Preparing evidence for courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-preparing.htm
  15. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-intro.htm
  16. The experthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-role.htm
  17. Site visitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-sitevisits.htm
  18. The reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-report.htm
  19. At courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-court.htm
  20. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-intro.htm
  21. Contract of employmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-contract.htm
  22. Specific categories of workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-specific.htm
  23. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-intro.htm
  24. Partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-partner.htm
  25. Companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-companies.htm
  26. Joint ventureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-ventures.htm
  27. Limited liability partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-liability.htm
  28. Other defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-defendants.htm
  29. Prosecution of foreign defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-foreign.htm
  30. Insolvencyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-insolvency.htm
  31. Prosecution of individualshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-individual.htm
  32. Proceeding against employees HSWA s7https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-employees.htm
  33. Proceeding against Crown employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-crown.htm
  34. Proceedings against director, manager, secretary or other similar officerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-directors.htm
  35. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-intro.htm
  36. The prosecution reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-report.htm
  37. Approval of a proposed prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-approval.htm
  38. Evidential stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-evidential.htm
  39. Public interest stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-public.htm
  40. Selection of charges and mode of trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-charges.htm
  41. Cautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-cautions.htm
  42. Enforcement against Crown bodieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-enforcement.htm
  43. Recording reasonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-recording.htm
  44. Pre-trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/index.htm
  45. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-intro.htm
  46. Drafting informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-drafting.htm
  47. Legal referenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-legal.htm
  48. Sample informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-informations.htm
  49. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-intro.htm
  50. Criminal procedure ruleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-criminal.htm
  51. Jurisdictionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-jurisdiction.htm
  52. Informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-information.htm
  53. Summonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-summons.htm
  54. Initial details of the prosecution casehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-advance.htm
  55. Information to assist the sentencing courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-sentencing.htm
  56. Preparation for guilty plea in the magistrates courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-preparation.htm
  57. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-intro.htm
  58. Written statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-written.htm
  59. Supplying statements to witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-witness.htm
  60. Supplying statements to the defencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defence.htm
  61. Attendance of witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-attendance.htm
  62. Formal admissionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-formal.htm
  63. Production of documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-production.htm
  64. Defendant's antecedentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defendant.htm
  65. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-intro.htm
  66. Key requirements of the CPIAhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-key.htm
  67. Investigations and relevant materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-investigations.htm
  68. Disclosure stageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-disclosure.htm
  69. Preparing the scheduleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-preparing.htm
  70. Approach to common categories of materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-approach.htm
  71. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/index.htm
  72. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-intro.htm
  73. General principleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-principles.htm
  74. Publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-publicising.htm
  75. Information which may be disclosedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-information.htm
  76. Sensitive caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-sensitive.htm
  77. Reporting committal proceedingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-committal.htm
  78. Contempt of courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-contempt.htm
  79. Reporting and Publicity - Abuse of process at common lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-abuse.htm
  80. European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) considerationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-echr.htm
  81. Reporting the trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-trial.htm
  82. Defamation: libel and slanderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-defamation.htm
  83. Breach of confidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-breach.htm
  84. Data protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-data.htm
  85. Reporting and publicity - Freedom of informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-foi.htm
  86. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-intro.htm
  87. Court procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-courtprocedure.htm
  88. Plea before venue and allocationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-mode.htm
  89. Discontinuing a prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-discontinue.htm
  90. The hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-hearing.htm
  91. Objections and adjournmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-objections.htm
  92. Contested cases - not guilty pleashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-contested.htm
  93. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-intro.htm
  94. Trial processhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-trial.htm
  95. Proving the offencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-prove.htm
  96. Key rules of evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-key.htm
  97. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-intro.htm
  98. Witnesses giving evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-witnesses.htm
  99. Exclusion of evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-exclusion.htm
  100. Use of inadmissible confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-confessions.htm
  101. Physical evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  102. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  103. Exhibiting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-exhibiting.htm
  104. Public documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-public.htm
  105. Proof of convictionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-proof.htm
  106. Sound and videotape recordingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-sound.htm
  107. Photographs, sketches and modelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-photos.htm
  108. Maps and planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-maps.htm
  109. Real evidence (material objects)https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-real.htm
  110. Computer evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-computer.htm
  111. Expert reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-expert.htm
  112. Depositionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-depositions.htm
  113. Written witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-written.htm
  114. Records required by statutory provisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-statutory.htm
  115. Continuityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-continuity.htm
  116. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-intro.htm
  117. Rule against hearsayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-rule.htm
  118. Exceptions to the hearsay rulehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-exceptions.htm
  119. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-intro.htm
  120. What is abuse of process?https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseprocess.htm
  121. Delayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-delay.htm
  122. Double jeopardyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-double.htm
  123. Breach of promisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-breach.htm
  124. Loss of evidence / failure to disclose unused materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-loss.htm
  125. Investigative improprietyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-investigative.htm
  126. Pre-trial publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-pretrial.htm
  127. In magistrates' courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusemagistrates.htm
  128. Abuse of process in the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusecrown.htm
  129. What to do if abuse is claimedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseclaimed.htm
  130. Recording decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-decisions.htm
  131. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-intro.htm
  132. Preparing for sentencing hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-preparing.htm
  133. The sentencing hearing and imposing the sentence https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-hearing.htm
  134. Penaltieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-penalties.htm
  135. Costshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-costs.htm
  136. Model exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-examples.htm
  137. Crown courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-intro.htm
  138. Allocation Procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-committal.htm
  139. At the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-court.htm
  140. Committal for sentencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-sentence.htm
  141. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-intro.htm
  142. Prosecution rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-prosecution.htm
  143. Defence rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-defence.htm
  144. Rights of appeal for both partieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-both.htm
  145. Appeals to European courtshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-european.htm
  146. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/index.htm
  147. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-intro.htm
  148. Conditions for a valid noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-conditions.htm
  149. Types of noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-types.htm
  150. Drafting noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-drafting.htm
  151. Service of noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-service.htm
  152. Failure to complyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-failure.htm
  153. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-intro.htm
  154. Employment tribunals - Jurisdiction of the tribunalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-jurisdiction.htm
  155. Notice of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-appeal.htm
  156. Preparation for the hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-preparation.htm
  157. Employment tribunal hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-employment.htm
  158. Tribunal decisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-tribunal.htm
  159. Challenging tribunal decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-challenges.htm
  160. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/index.htm
  161. Introduction to the work related deaths sectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/intro.htm
  162. Investigation of work related deathshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/investigation.htm
  163. Coroner Inquestshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/chronology.htm
  164. The coronerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/coroner.htm
  165. Enforcement guide Site maphttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/sitemap.htm
  166. Register of convictions and noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/convictions.htm
  167. Enforcement policy statementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm
  168. Enforcement management modelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/emm.pdf
  169. List of Specialist Regulatory Advocateshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/regulatory-advocates.pdf

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

CPIA
Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act

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Updated 2021-08-27