This is a list of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in 1955 .
16-745: The Warwickshire Justice Centre is a Crown Court venue, which deals with criminal cases, as well as a County Court venue, which deals with civil cases, in Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa , England. The complex also incorporates magistrates' court , a police station, and other agencies such as the Probation Service and Victim Support . Until the early 21st century, the Crown and County Courts in Warwickshire were based at Shire Hall in Warwick . However, as
32-605: A magistrates' court , a police station, and other agencies such as the Probation Service and Victim Support . Notable cases included the trial and conviction of the radio presenters, Tony and Julie Wadsworth , in June 2017, in connection with historical child sex offences. Crown Court The Crown Court ( Welsh : Llys y Goron ) is the criminal court of first instance in England and Wales responsible for hearing all indictable offences , some either way offences and appeals of
48-423: A circular layout, but the overall positioning of elements will remain the same. 4 %26 5 Eliz. 2 Acts passed before 1963 are cited by the regnal year(s) in which the relevant parliamentary session was held, as opposed to the convention used for later acts of citing the calendar year. Each act passed in a respective session is given a chapter number (abbreviated "c."), denoted by Arabic numerals in
64-474: A cost of £26.3 million and was completed in December 2010. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 4 March 2011. The design involved a main frontage in three main sections facing Newbold Terrace. The left hand section of five bays was fenestrated on the first and second floors by rows of casement windows , which were fronted by a slatted structure which was projected forward. The central section, which
80-612: A system of courts of assize and quarter sessions for indictment trials at first instance. However, the Beeching Commission in 1969 recommended the replacement of the assize system, following the model of the 'crown courts' introduced by the Criminal Justice Administration Act 1956 ( 4 & 5 Eliz. 2 . c. 34). in Liverpool and Manchester. As such, the current Crown Court was established on 1 January 1972 by
96-567: The Courts Act 1971 , establishing a unitary trial court for the whole jurisdiction. With the merger of the various court services into what is now HM Courts and Tribunals Service, the Crown Court frequently shares facilities with the County Court and magistrates' courts. The Crown Court carries out four principal types of activity: The average time from receipt by the Crown Court to completion
112-563: The Second World War and replaced by a series of low-rise buildings including some government offices, a magistrates' court building and a police station in the 1960s. The new building was intended to re-recreate the scale and massing of the original Regency style housing. Construction started in July 2008. It was designed by HLM in the Modernist style , built by Galliford Try in white stucco at
128-527: The Crown Court. This means that only barristers , solicitor advocates , and some chartered legal executives can represent clients. Solicitors may choose to attend hearings, but they are not able to speak directly. The court is primarily administered by the Clerk of Court, who wears a white collar/bib with bands and a black gown. They are assisted by the Court Usher, who is the only person that will move when
144-406: The case of public general acts , lowercase Roman numerals in the case of local acts , or italicised Arabic numerals in the case of personal acts . These run as separate series. 85 acts of Parliament were passed in 1955: 48 public general acts, 36 local acts and 1 personal act. [REDACTED] indicates that an act is available to view at legislation.gov.uk , and [REDACTED] indicates
160-549: The court is in session and will wear a gown over standard business dress. Court dress is almost always worn, although wigs may be removed during exceptional circumstances when directed by the judge - for example, when children are testifying. There are several physical elements to a Crown Court. From the position of the defendant: Different courts may have different layouts. Some, often older courts may have very compact layouts - like Gloucester Crown Court - or some, often newer courts may be very spacious. Some courts may have
176-675: The criminal division of the Court of Appeal and thence to the Supreme Court . In all other cases, appeal from the Crown Court lies by way of case stated to a Divisional Court of the High Court. The judges who normally sit in the Crown Court are High Court judges , circuit judges and recorders . Allocation of cases is conducted according to directions given by the Lord Chief Justice . Higher rights of audience are required to speak in
SECTION 10
#1732851140443192-613: The decisions of magistrates' courts . It is one of three Senior Courts of England and Wales . The Crown Court sits in around 92 locations in England and Wales , divided into Circuits . When sitting in the City of London , it is known as the Central Criminal Court or "Old Bailey". The Crown Court is administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service , an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice . England and Wales formerly used
208-401: The number of court cases in the county grew, it became necessary to commission a more modern courthouse for both Crown Court hearings and County Court hearings. The site selected by the Ministry of Justice , on the northwest side of Newbold Terrace, had been occupied by a row of Regency style houses erected in the mid-19th century. These buildings had been badly damaged by German bombing during
224-401: Was 177 days by the start of 2016. The Crown Court can hear appeals against conviction, sentence or both from those convicted in the magistrates' courts. Under this procedure, the Crown Court has the power to confirm, reject or alter any part of a decision. It may impose any sentence within the powers of a magistrate. In 2015 the Crown Court heard 11,348 appeals and the average waiting time
240-412: Was 8.8 weeks in 2015. Defendants may be committed from a magistrates' court where its sentencing powers are inadequate. This could be because: Committals may also arise from breaches of the terms of a Community Order or a suspended custodial sentence. In 2015, the Crown Court dealt with 30,802 cases for sentencing from the magistrates' courts. From Crown Court trials on indictment, appeal lies to
256-408: Was recessed, was formed by a flight of steps leading up to a revolving door giving access to a full-height atrium , while the right hand section, which was taller than the other sections, was fenestrated by a series of recessed lancet windows spanning the first and second floors, which were surmounted by a huge Royal coat of arms . Internally, the complex was laid out to accommodate seven courtrooms,
#442557