# Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, Section 56: Non-appearance of complainant.

Extent: E+W

... Where at the time and place appointed for the hearing or adjourned hearing of a complaint the defendant appears but the complainant does not, the court may dismiss the complaint or, if evidence has been received on a previous occasion, proceed in the absence of the complainant.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/section/56 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-act-1980/section-56
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.