{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981/rule-53",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981/rule-53.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1981/552",
  "legislation_title": "The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981",
  "path": "rule/53",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "53",
  "heading": "Notice to defendant before enforcing order",
  "text": "(1) A warrant of control shall not be issued for failure to pay a sum enforceable as a civil debt unless the defendant has been previously served with a copy of the minute of the order, or the order was made in his presence and the warrant is issued on that occasion.\n(2) A warrant of commitment shall not be issued for disobedience to an order of a magistrates' court unless the defendant has been previously served with a copy of the minute of the order, or the order was made in his presence and the warrant is issued on that occasion:\nProvided that this paragraph shall not apply to—\n(a) an order to pay money; or\n(b) an expedited order under section 16(2) and (6) of the Act of 1978.\n(3) A copy of the minute of the order shall be served under this rule by delivering it to the defendant or by sending it to him by post in a letter addressed to him at his last known or usual place of abode.\n(4) In relation to an order under section 16 of the Act of 1978 (other than an expedited order under subsections (2) and (6) of that section) paragraphs (2) and (3) shall have effect as if for the references to a copy of a minute of the order there were substituted references to a copy of the order.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in rule 53(1) substituted (6.4.2014) by The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provision) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/600), art. 2(1), Sch. para. 1(c) (with arts. 3, 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Rule 53 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 52.7 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Rule 53 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/552/rule/53",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T18:40:56.682539+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}