OpenLegislation

Criminal Law Act 1977 in England

1977 c. 45 · Enacted 29 July 1977 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 4 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 31 December 2020.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 6(3)repealedCriminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s. 72(4) 168(3) Sch. 11
s. 38A(5)(ia)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 55
s. 38B(5)(a)—Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 Sch. 7 para. 56
s. 8(3)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 26 para. 24

An Act to amend the law of England and Wales with respect to criminal conspiracy; to make new provision in that law, in place of the provisions of the common law and the Statutes of Forcible Entry, for restricting the use or threat of violence for securing entry into any premises and for penalising unauthorised entry or remaining on premises in certain circumstances; otherwise to amend the criminal law, including the law with respect to the administration of criminal justice; to provide for the alteration of certain pecuniary and other limits; to amend section 9(4) of the Administration of Justice Act 1973, the Legal Aid Act 1974, the Rabies Act 1974 and the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 and the law about juries and coroners’ inquests; and for connected purposes.

[29th July 1977]X1I1C1C2

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Power to apply Act conferred by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 50(3)(b)(ii), Sch. 8 para. 16

C2

By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch.1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s. 70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.

Commencement

I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent, Act wholly in force on 20.5.1985 see s. 65(7).

Editorial notes

X1

The text of ss. 1–5, 14–49, 57, 58, 60–65, Schs. 1–9, 11–14 was taken from S.I.F. Group 39:1 (Criminal Law: General), ss. 51, 63(2), 65(1)(3)(7)(10) from S.I.F. Group 39:2 ( Criminal Law: Public Safety and Order), ss. 53, 54, 65(1)(3)(7)(9)(10) Group 39:5 (Criminal Law: Sexual Offences and Obscenity), ss. 6–13, 65(1)(3)(7)–(10), Sch. 14 para. 5 Group 39:6 (Criminal Law: Offences against Property); provisions omitted from S.I.F have been dealt with as referred to in other commentary.

Contents

  1. Part I: Conspiracy
  2. 1The offence of conspiracy.
  3. 1AConspiracy to commit offences outside England and Wales .
  4. 2Exemptions from liability for conspiracy.
  5. 3Penalties for conspiracy.
  6. 4Restrictions on the institution of proceedings for conspiracy.
  7. 5Abolitions, savings, transitional provisions, consequential amendment and repeals.
  8. Part II: Offences Relating to Entering and Remaining on Property
  9. 6Violence for securing entry.
  10. 7Adverse occupation of residential premises.
  11. 8Trespassing with a weapon of offence.
  12. 9Trespassing on premises of foreign missions, etc.
  13. 10Obstruction of enforcement officers and court officers executing High Court or county court process .
  14. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  15. 12Supplementary provisions.
  16. 12AProtected intending occupiers: supplementary provisions.
  17. 13Abolitions and repeals.
  18. Part III: Criminal Procedure, Penalties, etc.
  19. 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  20. Allocation of offences to classes as regards mode of trial
  21. 15Offences which are to become triable only summarily.
  22. 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  24. 18—26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. Penalties
  26. 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  27. 28Penalties on summary conviction for offences triable either way.
  28. 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  29. 30Penalties (and mode of trial) for offences made triable only summarily.
  30. 31Increase of fines for certain summary offences.
  31. 32Other provisions as to maximum fines.
  32. 33Penalty for offences under section 3 of Explosive Substances Act 1883.
  33. Young offenders
  34. 34, 35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  35. 36Enforcement of fines imposed on young offenders.
  36. 37Supervision orders.
  37. Cross-border enforcement
  38. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  39. 38AExecution in different parts of United Kingdom of warrants for imprisonment for non-payment of fine.
  40. 38BFurther provision for execution of warrants of commitment for non-payment of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction in England and Wales or Northern Ireland.
  41. 39Service of summonses and citation throughout United Kingdom.
  42. 40Transfer of fine orders.
  43. Other provisions
  44. 41, 42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  45. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  46. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  47. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 48Power to make rules as to furnishing of information by prosecutor in criminal proceedings.
  51. 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  52. Part IV: Miscellaneous Provisions
  53. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  54. 51Bomb hoaxes.
  55. 52Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: redefinition of cannabis.
  56. 53Amendments of Obscene Publications Act 1959 with respect to cinematograph exhibitions.
  57. 54Inciting girl under sixteen to have incestuous sexual intercourse. Repealed
  58. 55Section 55
  59. 56. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. 57. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  61. 58Proceedings involving persons under 17: increase of certain pecuniary limits.
  62. 59—61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  63. 62. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  64. Part V: Provisions applying to Scotland
  65. 63Provisions applying to Scotland.
  66. Part VI: Supplementary
  67. 64Meaning of “indictable offence”, “summary offence” and “offence triable either way” in England and Wales.
  68. 65Citation, etc.
  69. Schedule 1Offences Made Triable Only Summarily, and Related Amendments
  70. Schedule S 2—4. . .
  71. Schedule 5: Alteration of Penalties on Summary Conviction of Certain Offences Triable Either Way
  72. 1Paragraph 1
  73. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  74. Schedule 6Increase of fines for certain summary offences
  75. Schedule 7: Transfer of Fine Orders
  76. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  77. Scotland
  78. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  79. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  80. Schedule 8. . .
  81. Schedule 9: Matters Ancillary to Section 47
  82. Probation orders
  83. 1Paragraph 1
  84. Courts competent to restore sentence held in suspense
  85. 2Paragraph 2
  86. Recall of offender on re-conviction
  87. 3Paragraph 3
  88. Consecutive sentences of imprisonment
  89. 3AParagraph 3A
  90. Miscellaneous (procedural)
  91. 4Paragraph 4
  92. 5Paragraph 5
  93. 6Paragraph 6
  94. Miscellaneous (consequential)
  95. 7Paragraph 7
  96. 8Paragraph 8
  97. 9Paragraph 9
  98. 10Paragraph 10
  99. 11Paragraph 11
  100. Schedule 10. . .
  101. Schedule 11: Amendments of Criminal Procedure (Scotland Act) 1975]
  102. 1Paragraph 1
  103. 2Paragraph 2
  104. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  105. 4Paragraph 4
  106. 5Paragraph 5
  107. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  108. 7Paragraph 7
  109. 8Paragraph 8
  110. 9Paragraph 9
  111. 10Paragraph 10
  112. 11—13Paragraph 11—13 Repealed
  113. Schedule 12: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  114. Part NIGHT POACHING ACT 1828 (C. 69)
  115. 1Paragraph 1
  116. 2Paragraph 2
  117. METROPOLITAN POLICE COURTS ACT 1839 (C. 71)Part METROPOLITAN POLICE COURTS ACT 1839 (C. 71)
  118. ACCESSORIES AND ABETTORS ACT 1861 (C. 94)Part ACCESSORIES AND ABETTORS ACT 1861 (C. 94)
  119. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 (C. 100)Part OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 (C. 100)
  120. PUBLIC STORES ACT 1875 (C. 25)Part PUBLIC STORES ACT 1875 (C. 25)
  121. EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT 1883 (C. 3)Part EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES ACT 1883 (C. 3)
  122. CORONERS ACT 1877 (c. 71)Part CORONERS ACT 1877 (c. 71)
  123. CHILDREN ACT 1948 (c.43)Part CHILDREN ACT 1948 (c.43)
  124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  125. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  127. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  128. BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT 1953 (c. 20)Part BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT 1953 (c. 20)
  129. Part SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 (C.69)
  130. 1Paragraph 1
  131. 2Paragraph 2
  132. ADOPTION ACT 1958 (7&8 Eliz.2.c.5.)Part ADOPTION ACT 1958 (7&8 Eliz.2.c.5.)
  133. OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS ACT 1959 (c. 66)Part OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS ACT 1959 (c. 66)
  134. Part CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1961 (c. 39)
  135. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  136. 2Paragraph 2
  137. 3Paragraph 3
  138. 4Paragraph 4
  139. 5Paragraph 5
  140. Part LICENSING ACT 1964 (c. 26)
  141. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  142. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  143. HOUSING ACT 1964 (c. 56)Part HOUSING ACT 1964 (c. 56)
  144. HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1966 (c. 49)Part HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1966 (c. 49)
  145. CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1967 (c. 58)Part CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1967 (c. 58)
  146. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  147. Part CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1967 (C. 80)
  148. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  149. 2Paragraph 2
  150. 3Paragraph 3
  151. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  152. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  153. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  154. 7Paragraph 7
  155. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  156. 9Paragraph 9
  157. Part COMPANIES ACT 1967 (c. 81)
  158. 1Paragraph 1
  159. 2Paragraph 2
  160. FIREARMS ACT 1968(c. 27)Part FIREARMS ACT 1968(c. 27)
  161. Part
  162. ...Part ...
  163. Part: CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1969 (c.54)
  164. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  165. 2Paragraph 2
  166. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  167. 4Paragraph 4
  168. 5Paragraph 5
  169. 6Paragraph 6
  170. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  171. FINANCE ACT 1972 (C. 41)Part FINANCE ACT 1972 (C. 41)
  172. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  173. Part ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT 1973 (c. 15)
  174. 1Paragraph 1
  175. 2Paragraph 2
  176. Part POWERS OF CRIMINAL COURTS ACT 1973 (c. 62)
  177. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  178. 2Paragraph 2
  179. 3Paragraph 3
  180. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  181. 5Paragraph 5
  182. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  183. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  184. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  185. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  186. 10Paragraph 10
  187. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  188. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  189. JURIES ACT 1974 (c. 23)Part JURIES ACT 1974 (c. 23)
  190. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974 (c. 37)Part HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974 (c. 37)
  191. REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1974 (c. 53)Part REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1974 (c. 53)
  192. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  193. Part BAIL ACT 1976 (c. 63)
  194. 1Paragraph 1
  195. 2Paragraph 2
  196. 3Paragraph 3
  197. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  198. Schedule 13Schedule 13
  199. Schedule 14: Transitional Provisions
  200. 1Paragraph 1
  201. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  202. 3Paragraph 3
  203. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  204. 5Paragraph 5