Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 1

Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous

Provisions) Act 1933
1933 (23 and 24 Geo. 5 C. 36)
Thomson Reuters (Legal) Limited.
UK Statutes Crown Copyright. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

An Act to abolish grand juries and amend the law as to the presentment of indictments; to provide
for the summary determination of questions as to liability for death duties; to make provision for
alternative procedure for the recovery of Crown debts and to enable proceedings by the Crown to
be instituted in county courts in appropriate cases; to amend the procedure as to certain prerogative
writs and as to trials by jury in the High Court; to amend the law as to the payment of costs by and
to the Crown; to provide for the further delegation of the jurisdiction of the Master in Lunacy; and
for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[28th July 1933]

Extent
Preamble: England, Wales

R Repealed

1. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Courts Act 1971, s. 56(4), Sch. 11, Pt. IV

P Partially In Force

2.— Procedure for indictment of offenders.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a bill of indictment charging any person with an
indictable offence may be preferred by any person before a court in which the person charged may
lawfully be indicted for that offence […]1 and it shall thereupon become an indictment and be
proceeded with accordingly [ . ] 1 […]1
(2) Subject as hereinafter provided no bill of indictment charging any person with an indictable
offence shall be preferred unless either—
(a) the person charged has been [ sent ] 2 for trial for the offence; or
(aa)-(ac) […]3
(b) the bill is preferred [ by the direction of the [ criminal division of the Court of Appeal ] 5
or ] 4 by the direction or with the consent of a judge of the High Court […]6 [ ; or ] 7
(i)-(ii) […]8
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 2

[ (c) the bill is preferred under section 22B(3)(a) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. ] 7
[ Provided that—
[ (i) where the person charged has been sent for trial, the bill of indictment against
him may include, either in substitution for or in addition to any count charging an
offence specified in the notice under section 57D(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act
1998, any counts founded on material which, in pursuance of regulations made under
paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to that Act, was served on the person charged, being
counts which may lawfully be joined in the same indictment; ] 9
(iA)-(iB) […]3
(ii) a charge of a previous conviction of an offence may, notwithstanding that it
was not included in [ such notice ] 10 or in any such direction or consent as aforesaid,
be included in any bill of indictment
[…]11 ] 8
(3) If a bill of indictment [ has been ] 12 preferred otherwise than in accordance with the provisions
of the last foregoing subsection […]13 , the indictment shall be liable to be quashed:
Provided that—
(a) if the bill contains several counts, and the said provisions have been complied
with as respects one or more of them, those counts only that were wrongly included
shall be quashed under this subsection; and
(b) where a person who has been [ sent ] 14 for trial is convicted on any indictment
or any count of an indictment, that indictment or count shall not be quashed under
this subsection in any proceedings on appeal, unless application was made at the
trial that it should be so quashed.
(4) […]15
(5) […]15
(6) [ Rules may make provision ] 16 for carrying this section into effect and [ , in particular, ] 17
provision as to the manner in which and the time at which bills of indictment are to be preferred
before any court and the manner in which application is to be made for the consent of a judge of
the High Court […]18 for the preferment of a bill of indictment.
[ (6ZA) Where a bill of indictment is preferred in accordance with subsections (1) and (2), no
objection to the indictment may be taken after the commencement of the trial by reason of any
failure to observe any rules under subsection (6).
(6ZB) For the purposes of subsection (6ZA) the trial commences at the time when a jury is sworn
to consider the issue of guilt or whether the accused did the act or made the omission charged, or,
if the court accepts a plea of guilty before the time when a jury is sworn, when that plea is accepted.
(6ZC) The references in subsection (6ZB) to the time when a jury is sworn include the time when
that jury would be sworn but for the making of an order under Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act
2003. ] 19
[ (6A) In subsection (6) above “rules”–
(a) in relation to the preferment of a bill of indictment by the direction or with the consent
of a judge of the High Court, means rules made [ in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1
to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 ] 21 , and
(b) in any other case, means Criminal Procedure Rules.
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 3

] 20
(7) [ Nothing ] 22 […]22 in this section shall affect any enactment restricting the right to prosecute
in particular classes of case.
(8) The provisions of any enactment passed before the commencement of this Act shall have effect
subject to the adaptations and modifications specified in the Second Schedule to this Act.

Notes
1
Possible drafting error, words are purportedly repealed in s.2(2) but those words do not exist and so the amendment
is applied to s.2(1) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 c. 25 Sch.23(3) para.1 (November 12, 2009 for repeals
specified in 2009 c.25 s.182(1)(j)(i); January 1, 2010 for repeals specified in 2009 c.25 s.182(3)(d); April 6, 2010
for repeals specified in SI 2010/816 art.2 and Sch.1 para.22(a); April 6, 2010 in relation to the relevant local justice
areas specified in SI 2010/816 art.4(2) for repeals specified in SI 2010/816 art.4(1)(b); June 27, 2011 for repeals
specified in SI 2011/1452 art.2(i); October 3, 2011 in relation to the relevant local justice areas specified in SI
2011/2148 art.2(2) for repeals specified in SI 2011/2148 art.2(1)(e); October 8, 2012 otherwise)
2
Word substituted by Criminal Justice Act 2003 c. 44 Sch.3(2) para.34(2)(a) (May 9, 2005 in relation to cases sent
for trial under 1998 c.37 s.51A(3)(d); June 18, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas subject to savings
as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; June 18, 2012 for purposes specified in SI 2012/1320 art.4(3) subject to savings
as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; November 5, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas and purposes
specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(3) subject to saving provisions specified in SI 2012/2574 arts 3 and 4; not yet in
force otherwise)
3
Repealed by Criminal Justice Act 2003 c. 44 Sch.37(4) para.1 (June 18, 2012: repeal has effect on June 18, 2012
in relation to the relevant local justice areas specified in SI 2012/1320 art.4(1)(d) and purposes specified in SI
2012/1320 art.4(3) subject to savings specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; November 5, 2012 in relation to local justice
areas specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(1)(d) and purposes specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(3) subject to saving
provisions specified in SI 2012/2574 arts 3 and 4; not yet in force otherwise)
4
Words inserted by Criminal Appeal Act 1964 (c. 43), Sch. 2 and continue to have effect by Supreme Court Act
1981 (c. 54), Sch. 5
5
Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Appeal Act 1966 (c. 31), s. 1(6)(a) and continue to have effect by Supreme
Court Act 1981 (c. 54), Sch. 5
6
Words repealed by Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (c.23), s. 31(6), Sch. 2
7
Added by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 c. 37 Sch.8 para.5(1)(b) (June 1, 1999)
8
Added by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 c. 37 Sch.8 para.5(2) (January 4, 1999 for purposes specified in SI
1998/2327 art.4(2)(c); January 15, 2001 as specified in SI 2000/3283 art.2(c) otherwise)
9
Substituted by Criminal Justice Act 2003 c. 44 Sch.3(2) para.34(2)(c) (May 9, 2005 in relation to cases sent for
trial under 1998 c.37 s.51A(3)(d); June 18, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas subject to savings
as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; June 18, 2012 for purposes specified in SI 2012/1320 art.4(3) subject to savings
as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; November 5, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas and purposes
specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(3) subject to saving provisions specified in SI 2012/2574 arts 3 and 4; not yet in
force otherwise)
10
Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 2003 c. 44 Sch.3(2) para.34(2)(e) (May 9, 2005 in relation to cases sent
for trial under 1998 c.37 s.51 or s.51A(3)(d); June 18, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas subject
to savings as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; June 18, 2012 for purposes specified in SI 2012/1320 art.4(3) subject
to savings as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; November 5, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas and
purposes specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(3) subject to saving provisions specified in SI 2012/2574 arts 3 and 4;
not yet in force otherwise)
11
Words repealed by Criminal Justice Act 2003 c. 44 Sch.37(4) para.1 (June 18, 2012: repeal has effect on June 18,
2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas specified in SI 2012/1320 art.4(1)(d) and purposes specified in
SI 2012/1320 art.4(3) subject to savings specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; November 5, 2012 in relation to local
justice areas specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(1)(d) and purposes specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(3) subject to saving
provisions specified in SI 2012/2574 arts 3 and 4; not yet in force otherwise)
12
Words inserted by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 c. 25 Pt 3 c.5 s.116(1)(b)(i) (November 12, 2009)
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 4

13
Words repealed by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 c. 25 Sch.23(3) para.1 (November 12, 2009 for repeals specified
in 2009 c.25 s.182(1)(j)(i); January 1, 2010 for repeals specified in 2009 c.25 s.182(3)(d); April 6, 2010 for repeals
specified in SI 2010/816 art.2 and Sch.1 para.22(a); April 6, 2010 in relation to the relevant local justice areas
specified in SI 2010/816 art.4(2) for repeals specified in SI 2010/816 art.4(1)(b); June 27, 2011 for repeals specified
in SI 2011/1452 art.2(i); October 3, 2011 in relation to the relevant local justice areas specified in SI 2011/2148
art.2(2) for repeals specified in SI 2011/2148 art.2(1)(e); October 8, 2012 otherwise)
14
Word substituted by Criminal Justice Act 2003 c. 44 Sch.3(2) para.34(3) (May 9, 2005 in relation to cases sent
for trial under 1998 c.37 s.51 or s.51A(3)(d); June 18, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas subject
to savings as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; June 18, 2012 for purposes specified in SI 2012/1320 art.4(3) subject
to savings as specified in SI 2012/1320 art.5; November 5, 2012 in relation to the relevant local justice areas and
purposes specified in SI 2012/2574 art.2(3) subject to saving provisions specified in SI 2012/2574 arts 3 and 4;
not yet in force otherwise)
15
Repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
16
Words substituted subject to transitional provisions specified in SI 2004/2035 art.2 by Courts Act 2003
(Consequential Amendments) Order 2004/2035 Sch.1 para.1(2)(a) (September 1, 2004: substitution has effect
subject to transitional provisions specified in SI 2004/2035 art.2)
17
Words substituted subject to transitional provisions specified in SI 2004/2035 art.2 by Courts Act 2003
(Consequential Amendments) Order 2004/2035 Sch.1 para.1(2)(b) (September 1, 2004: substitution has effect
subject to transitional provisions specified in SI 2004/2035 art.2)
18
Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV
19
Added by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 c. 25 Pt 3 c.5 s.116(1)(c) (November 12, 2009)
20
Inserted subject to transitional provisions specified in SI 2004/2035 art.2 by Courts Act 2003 (Consequential
Amendments) Order 2004/2035 Sch.1 para.1(3) (September 1, 2004: insertion has effect subject to transitional
provisions specified in SI 2004/2035 art.2)
21
Words substituted by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 c. 4 Sch.1(2) para.7 (April 3, 2006)
22
Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1993 c. 50 Sch.1(I) para.1 (November 5, 1993)

Commencement
s. 2: September 1, 1933 (1933 c. 36 s. 10(4))

Extent
s. 2(1)-(8): England, Wales

R Repealed

3. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Finance Act 1975, ss. 52(2), 59(5), Sch. 13, Pt. I

R Repealed

4. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Crown Proceedings Act 1947, s. 39, Sch. 2

R Repealed

5. […]1
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 5

Notes
1
Repealed by Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1938, s. 20(3), Sch. 4

R Repealed

6. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Supreme Court Act 1981, s. 152(4), Sch.7

Law In Force

7.— Costs in Crown proceedings.

(1) In any civil proceedings to which the Crown is a party in any court having power to award costs
in cases between subjects, and in any arbitration to which the Crown is a party, the costs of and
incidental to the proceedings shall be in the discretion of the court or arbitrator to be exercised in
the same manner and on the same principles as in cases between subjects, and the court or arbitrator
shall have power to make an order for the payment of costs by or to the Crown accordingly:
Provided that—
(a) in the case of proceedings to which by reason of any enactment or otherwise
the Attorney-General, a Government department or any officer of the Crown as such
is required to be made a party, the court or arbitrator shall have regard to the nature
of the proceedings and the character and circumstances in which the
Attorney-General, the department or officer of the Crown appears, and may in the
exercise of its or his discretion order any other party to the proceedings to pay the
costs of the Attorney-General, department or officer, whatever may be the result of
the proceedings; and
(b) nothing in this section shall affect the power of the court or arbitrator to order,
or any enactment providing for, the payment of costs out of any particular fund or
property, or any enactment expressly relieving any department or officer of the
Crown of the liability to pay costs.
(2) In this section the expression “civil proceedings”includes proceedings by petition of right and
proceedings by the Crown in the High Court or a county court for the recovery of fines or penalties,
and references to proceedings to which the Crown is a party include references to proceedings to
which the Attorney-General or any Government department or any officer of the Crown as such is
a party, so, however, that the Crown shall not be deemed to be a party to any proceedings by reason
only that the proceedings are proceedings by the Attorney-General on the relation of some other
person.
(3) […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1993 c. 50 Sch.1(I) para.1 (November 5, 1993)
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 6

Commencement
s. 7: September 1, 1933 (1933 c. 36 s. 10(4))

Extent
s. 7(1)-(3): England, Wales

R Repealed

8. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Mental Health Act 1959, s. 149(2), Sch. 8, Pt. I

Law In Force

9. Saving for proceedings affecting His Majesty in His private capacity.

Nothing in this Act shall apply to proceedings affecting His Majesty in His private capacity.

Commencement
s. 9: September 1, 1933 (1933 c. 36 s. 10(4))

Extent
s. 9: England, Wales

Law In Force

10.— Short title, extent, repeal and commencement.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933.
(2) This Act shall not extend to Scotland or to Northern Ireland.
(3) […]1
(4) […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1950 (c. 6).

Commencement
s. 10: July 28, 1933

Extent
s. 10(1)-(4): England, Wales
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 7

FIRST SCHEDULE […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967, s. 10(2), Sch. 3, Pt. III

SECOND SCHEDULE

CONSEQUENTIAL ADAPTATIONS OF ENACTMENTS

Section 2

Law In Force

1.
References in any enactment to the preferment of a bill of indictment before or the finding of an
indictment by a grand jury shall (whatever words are used) include [ reference ] 1 to the preferment
[…]2 of a bill of indictment under this Act.

Notes
1
Words substituted by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 c. 25 Pt 3 c.5 s.116(1)(d)(i) (November 12, 2009)
2
Words repealed by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 c. 25 Sch.23(3) para.1 (November 12, 2009 for repeals specified
in 2009 c.25 s.182(1)(j)(i); January 1, 2010 for repeals specified in 2009 c.25 s.182(3)(d); April 6, 2010 for repeals
specified in SI 2010/816 art.2 and Sch.1 para.22(a); April 6, 2010 in relation to the relevant local justice areas
specified in SI 2010/816 art.4(2) for repeals specified in SI 2010/816 art.4(1)(b); June 27, 2011 for repeals specified
in SI 2011/1452 art.2(i); October 3, 2011 in relation to the relevant local justice areas specified in SI 2011/2148
art.2(2) for repeals specified in SI 2011/2148 art.2(1)(e); October 8, 2012 otherwise)

Commencement
Sch. 2 para. 1: September 1, 1933 (1933 c. 36 s. 10(4))

Extent
Sch. 2 para. 1: England, Wales

R Repealed

2. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV

R Repealed

3. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1952 (c. 48), s. 18(1), Sch.
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 8

R Repealed

4. […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986 (c.12), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I

THIRD SCHEDULE […]1

Notes
1
Repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1950 (c. 6)
Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 Page 9

Table of Contents

Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 c. 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
R s. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
P s. 2 Procedure for indictment of offenders.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
R s. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
R s. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
R s. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
R s. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
s. 7 Costs in Crown proceedings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
R s. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
s. 9 Saving for proceedings affecting His Majesty in His private capacity.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
s. 10 Short title, extent, repeal and commencement.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Schedule 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Schedule 2 CONSEQUENTIAL ADAPTATIONS OF ENACTMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
para. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
R para. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
R para. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
R para. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Schedule 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9