Article 2 Interpretation

In these Rules, unless a contrary intention appears–

• any reference to a rule shall be construed as a reference to a rule contained in these Rules and any reference in a rule to a paragraph shall be construed as a reference to a paragraph of that rule;

• “commission area” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1 of the Act of 1979 but does not include the inner London area or the City of London;

• “inner London area” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2(1)(a) of the Act of 1979;

• “panel” means “family panel”, within the meaning of section 92 of the Act of 1989;

• “petty sessions area” has the meaning assigned to it by section 4 of the Act of 1979 but does not include the inner London area or any petty sessional division thereof, or the City of London;

• “stipendiary magistrate” means a magistrate appointed under section 13 of the Act of 1979;

• “the Act of 1979” means the Justices of the Peace Act 1979 ^f1;

• “the Act of 1989” means the Children Act 1989 ^f2.

Any reference in these Rules to a justice for a petty sessions area shall be construed as a reference to a justice who ordinarily acts in and for that area.