This petition was submitted during the 2019 to 2024 Parliament
Closed petition Abolish the 6-month statutory time limit for prosecuting summary-only offences
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The Government should introduce legislation to amend the Magistrates Court Act 1980 in such a way that it removes the 6 month limit for prosecutions of offences classed as summary-only and which are triable only in the Magistrates Court.
The Magistrates Court Act is now over 40 years old. Evidential requirements on police have changed significantly in that time, as have CPS procedures for bringing prosecutions.The time limit applies to offences like drink-driving, harassment and common assault. There are numerous cases of offenders (including domestic abuse perpetrators) escaping justice for no other reason than the police and CPS are unable to bring a case before a court within 6 months. This law needs urgently updating.
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This petition will stay open until 17 October 2020.